THE  VOW 


THE   VOW 


.«•••*•••»»»     ,     , 

»  • » , ; 


•»••<» 
* 


^•44    «    * 


'CilVK    HKR   BACK  TO   ME— AND   I   VOW   THE   REST    OF   MY 
DAYS  TO  YOUR  SERV1CK  ' '  —Page  21 


THE  VOW 

A    NO VEL 


BY 

PAUL    TRENT 


AUTHOR  OF 
A  WIFE  BY  PURCHASE 


WITH  FRONTISPIECE  IN  COLOR  BY 

JOHN    RAE 


FIFTH  EDITION 


t 


NEW    YORK 

GROSSET    &    DUNLAP 

PUBLISHERS 


Copyright,  igiz,  by 
FREDERICK  A.  STOKES  COMPANY 


All  rights  reserved,  including1  that  of  translation  into  foreign 
languages,  including  the  Scandinavian 


February,  igir 


TO 

ETHEL 


2138518 


THE    VOW 


THE    VOW 


CHAPTER  I 

IT  was  a  dull  November  day,  and  the  flickering  light 
from  the  log   fire  lighted  up   one  side  of  John 
Gaunt's  face  —  a  strong  face,  with  great  possibilities 
in  it  for  good  or  evil.     The  eyes  were  keen  and  steady; 
the  nose  commanding,  while  the  lips  were  rather  full,  and 
would  have  denoted  a  nature  that  might  run  riot  had  it 
not  been  for  the  firmly  moulded  chin. 

His  wealth  had  been  gathered  by  the  use  of  his  brains, 
and  in  that  fact  he  took  an  intense  pride.  But  one  thing 
had  been  missing  from  his  life  —  a  friend.  Acquaint- 
ances his  check-book  had  brought,  and  he  possessed  the 
usual  parasites  that  crowd  the  path  of  the  millionaire. 
Life  had  been  too  strenuous  to  allow  him  to  realize  that 
he  was  losing  a  good  deal  of  its  sweetness,  but  latterly  he 
had  been  conscious  of  a  fierce  longing  to  find  some  one 
who  might  become  a  second  self — some  one  in  whom  he 
could  confide,  and  whom  he  could  trust  with  his  inmost 
thoughts.  And  he  imagined  that  he  had  found  such  a 
one  in  Lady  Mildred  Blythe. 

A  footman  entered  and  approached  with  that  deprecat- 
ing air  of  the  well-trained  servant. 

x 


2  THE    VOW 

"  Mr.  Braithwaite  would  like  to  see  you,  sir." 

Gaunt  hesitated,  but  soon  a  grim  look  came  to  his 
face. 

"  I  will  see  him." 

A  few  moments  later  a  gentleman,  who  was  evidently 
ill  at  ease,  came  in  and  approached  Gaunt  with  a  depre- 
cating air. 

"  They  told  me  in  the  City  that  I  should  find  you 
here,"  he  remarked  apologetically. 

"  Then  they  failed  in  their  duty.  What  do  you  want  ?  " 
Gaunt  asked  curtly. 

"  You've  been  a  good  friend  to  me,  and  I'm  afraid  that 
I've  worried  you ;  but  it  is  not  my  fault,  old  chap.  I'm 
desperately  hard  up  —  and " 

"  Cut  it  short.  I  suppose  that  you  want  to  borrow 
again  ?  " 

"  I  thought  that  you  would " 

"  In  this  instance  you  thought  correctly.  I  owe  you 
a  debt,  for  you  did  me  a  service  many  years  ago.  On 
several  occasions  since  I  have  endeavored  to  repay  it. 
Now,  I  will  give  you  a  check  for  a  hundred  pounds." 

Braithwaite  began  effusively  to  express  his  thanks  but 
was  cut  short  abruptly. 

"  This  is  the  last  time  —  and  I  am  a  man  of  my  word. 
It  seems  to  me  that  you  must  be  a  shiftless  kind  of  per- 
son not  to  get  on,  with  all  the  chances  you  have  had. 
But  I  won't  preach.  I  want  you  to  understand  that  I 
won't  give  you  another  penny  piece  —  not  if  you  are 
starving,"  Gaunt  said  with  quiet  emphasis. 

Braithwaite  watched  his  every  movement,  and  when  the 
check  had  been  signed,  almost  clutched  at  the  slip  of 
paper. 


THE    VOW 


"  I  am  very  grateful  —  and 


"  That's  sufficient.  Now  you  can  go,"  Gaunt  inter- 
vened, and  gave  him  a  curt  nod  of  dismissal. 

Braithwaite  slouched  away,  and  there  was  a  little 
more  color  in  his  pale  cheeks,  perhaps  brought  there 
by  shame ;  perhaps  by  that  feeling  of  exultation 
which  the  sudden  acquirement  of  money  gives  to  the 
needy. 

Gaunt  fell  into  a  reverie,  and  his  thoughts  were  with 
the  past.  It  was  a  great  thing  to  have  succeeded  as  he 
had  done,  when  little  more  than  thirty  years  of  age. 
Everything  he  touched  turned  to  gold,  and  now  he  pos- 
sessed more  than  two  million  pounds ;  but  there  was 
nothing  of  the  miser  in  his  disposition,  for  it  was  not  the 
gold  that  he  loved,  but  the  power  that  it  represented, 
and  it  was  ambition  that  directed  his  every  step  —  save 
one.  It  was  true  that  marriage  with  the  woman  he  had 
chosen,  Lady  Mildred  Blythe,  would  increase  his  social 
prestige,  but  it  was  not  for  that  reason  that  he  was 
about  to  offer  her  his  hand  and  a  share  of  his  wealth. 
During  his  early  years  —  that  grim  time  spent  on  the 
Congo  —  he  had  not  spoken  to  a  white  woman,  the 
amassing  of  wealth  had  kept  him  too  busy  to  think  of 
love. 

A  month  ago  he  would  have  laughed  to  scorn  the  idea 
of  such  a  marriage  and  now  he  knew  that  everything 
else  counted  as  naught,  when  weighed  with  his  love  for 
Lady  Mildred.  Even  now  he  could  picture  her  unerr- 
ingly, with  her  beauty  that  moved  him  so  strangely. 
And  yet  he  realized  that  if  she  but  knew  what  an  inferno 
of  passion  she  had  aroused,  her  answer  would  be  the  re- 
fusal of  his  suit. 


THE    VOW 


But  there  was  no  nervousness  on  his  face  when  he  was 
shown  into  the  room  where  she  awaited  him.  Lady 
Mildred  did  not  rise  from  the  chair,  but  gave  him  her 
hand  and  looked  at  him  frankly. 

"  What  news,  Mr.  Gaunt  ?  How  is  that  investment 
of  mine  ?  "  she  asked  gaily. 

But  he  could  see  the  anxiety  in  her  eyes.  The  woman 
he  loved  was  poor,  with  that  gnawing  poverty  of  one  who 
must  keep  up  appearances. 

0  The  shares  have  gone  up  fifteen  shillings,"  he  an- 
swered quietly. 

"  Then  I  have  made ?  " 

"  About  two  thousand  pounds." 

"  Can  I  have  a  check  at  once,  for ? "  Lady 

Mildred  stopped,  and  her  face  flushed  painfully.  She 
hated  that  this  man  should  know  that  she  so  sorely 
needed  the  money ;  but  poverty  must  sink  its  pride. 

"  You  can  have  a  check  when  you  want.  But  I  do 
not  want  to  talk  business,  Lady  Mildred  —  I  am  a  blunt 
man,  and  I  must  come  straight  to  the  point.  Will  you 
be  my  wife  ?  " 

His  eyes  were  fixed  eagerly  on  her  face,  and  it  required 
a  great  effort  to  hide  the  passion  that  swayed  him. 
But  he  would  play  the  game  as  he  had  planned,  and 
when  he  continued,  his  voice  was  almost  devoid  of  ex- 
pression. 

"  I  am  aware  that  you  don't  love  me,  but  I  am  content 
to  take  you  on  your  own  terms.  I  won't  insult  you  by 
remarking  that  I  am  a  rich  man.  But  money  can  be 
very  useful.  There  is  your  brother  —  and " 

"  You  wish  to  remind  me  that  he  is  on  the  verge  of 
bankruptcy.  Let  us  be  quite  frank  with  one  another.  I 


THE    VOW  5 

suppose  you  know  that  I  shall  accept  your  offer,"  she 
continued  very  quietly. 

"  I  hoped  that  you  would." 

"  You  forget  your  boasted  bluntness.  You  knew  that 
I  could  not  refuse  —  I  wonder  that  you  want  me.  There 
are  many  girls  more  beautiful,  and  with  blood  as  blue 
in  their  veins.  Why  do  you  honor  me  ?  " 

Gaunt  longed  to  seize  her  in  his  arms  and  answer  the 
question  by  fierce  kisses. 

"  I  have  only  met  one  woman  in  my  life  that  I  would 
care  to  ask  to  be  my  wife  —  and  that  woman  is  your- 
self!" 

His  voice  was  low  and  trembled  slightly,  in  spite  of 
his  effort  to  control  it.  She  looked  at  him  curiously  and 
a  smile  played  about  her  mouth.  Yes,  he  was  eminently 
handsome  and  clean-looking,  a  man  of  whose  appearance 
she  would  never  be  ashamed,  and  yet  she  was  conscious 
of  a  feeling  of  something  akin  to  fear.  This  man  would 
endeavor  to  be  her  master,  and  the  idea  was  extremely 
distasteful. 

Prior  to  Gaunt's  arrival  she  had  decided  to  accept  him, 
but  now  she  was  vaguely  reluctant  to  do  so.  Were 
there  not  rumors  of  the  manner  in  which  he  had  gained 
his  wealth  ?  His  connection  with  the  Congo  was  enough 
to  damn  him  in  the  sight  of  most  people ;  but  on  the 
other  hand,  there  was  the  great  temptation  to  say  "  good- 
bye" forever  to  mean  poverty  —  to  wear  jewels  that 
would  make  her  the  envy  of  all  her  friends.  And  she 
loved  luxurious  surroundings. 

To  do  Lady  Mildred  justice,  there  was  no  man  for 
whom  she  cared,  and  no  one  would  be  wronged  should 
she  accept  John  Gaunt.  And  there  was  her  brother  to 


6  THE    VOW 

be  considered,  for  with  the  help  of  this  millionaire,  Geof- 
frey would  be  given  a  fair  chance  —  the  glories  of  their 
name  might  be  renewed  —  and  the  Earl  of  Lynton  take 
his  proper  place  in  the  world.  Then,  too,  there 
was  her  sister  Ethel,  who  was  not  yet  out  of  the  school- 
room. 

Gaunt  watched  her  closely,  for  he  realized  that 
she  was  trying  to  make  up  her  mind.  Not  for  a  mo- 
ment had  he  imagined  that  she  would  hesitate,  and  he 
realized  how  heavy  the  blow  would  be  should  she  refuse 
him. 

Could  she  care  for  some  one  else?  The  mere  ides* 
caused  him  torments,  and  passionate  words  came  near 
his  lips.  But  no  —  he  must  not  frighten  her,  for  that 
would  be  fatal  to  his  chance ;  and  he  moved  away  so 
that  his  face  could  not  be  seen. 

"  You  are  not  going  ?  "  she  cried  hastily. 

"  I  will  stay,  if  you  wish,"  he  answered  very 
quietly. 

"  I  do  wish.     Mr.  Gaunt,  I  will  be  your  wife." 

In  a  moment  he  was  by  her  side  and  with  his  eyes 
fixed  eagerly  on  her.  Lady  Mildred  was  almost  fright- 
ened, now  that  she  had  promised  to  give  herself  to  him ; 
but  she  regarded  him  steadily. 

"  I  am  deeply  honored." 

The  words  were  spoken  very  quietly,  and  he  raised 
her  hand  to  his  lips. 

"  I  should  like  our  marriage  to  take  place  as  soon  as 
possible.  I  will  see  your  brother  to-night  and  arrange 
about  the  settlements,"  he  continued  gravely. 

"  You  are  very  good,  Mr.  Gaunt  —  and " 

"  Mildred,  my  name  is  John,"  he  suggested  gently. 


THE    VOW  7 

"  Thank  you,  I  won't  forget  it  again,  John.  May  I 
say  that  you  are  a  very  curious  kind  of  man.  You  have 
never  tried  to  make  love  to  me  —  and  perhaps  that  is 
why  I  have  consented  to  marry  you,"  she  added  reflect- 
ively. 

"  I  hope  you  will  like  this  ring." 

He  placed  it  on  her  finger,  and  she  looked  at  it  re- 
flectively. 

"  You  made  very  certain  of  my  answer,"  she  said  a  lit- 
tle coldly. 

"  I  had  chosen  you  for  my  wife,  and  I  generally  get 
my  own  way  —  sooner  or  later,"  he  answered,  and  there 
was  exultation  in  his  voice. 

"  Yes.  I  think  you  would.  John,  you  would  make  a 
bad  enemy." 

"  But  a  loyal  friend.  Even  my  enemies  in  the  City  — 
and  they  are  many  —  will  tell  you  that  I  am  a  man  of 
my  word.  I  promise  that  I  will  always  be  good  to  you, 
Mildred.  You  shall  never  regret  the  promise  that  you 
have  just  made." 

"  I  wonder  if  you  are  right  ?  Would  you  mind  leav- 
ing me  now  ?  "  she  said  gently. 

He  hesitated  and  would  have  taken  her  in  his  arms 
had  he  received  the  slightest  encouragement,  but  she 
merely  gave  him  her  hand,  which  he  again  raised  to  his 
lips. 

Late  that  night  John  Gaunt  thought  over  the  great 
event  of  the  day.  His  self-confidence  was  supreme,  and 
he  had  not  the  slightest  doubt  that  in  time  he  would  win 
the  love  of  the  woman  who  had  promised  to  be  his  wife. 
His  passion  for  her  had  only  increased  by  reason  of  its 
relentless  suppression,  and  he  already  looked  forward  to 


8  THE    VOW 


the  day  when  she  would  give  him  love  for  love,  and  kiss 
for  kiss. 

And  a  month  later  John  Gaunt  and  Lady  Mildred  be- 
came man  and  wife. 


CHAPTER  II 

A  YEAR  passed  and  John  Gaunt  left  his  house  in 
Park  Lane  to  go  to  his  office  in  the  City.     It 
was  a  joy  to  him  —  this  daily  battle  of  wits,  and 
although  he  was  as  rich  as  mortal  man  could  desire, 
there  had  been  no  thought  of  giving  up  his  work. 

During  the  drive  his  thoughts  were  with  his  wife,  for 
there  was  naturally  a  little  anxiety  at  such  a  time,  but  he 
remembered  that  Lady  Mildred  was  physically  a  strong 
woman,  and  there  was  but  little  chance  of  any  complica- 
tion arising. 

His  secretary,  Michael  Foster,  rose  to  receive  him  and 
placed  on  the  table  a  pile  of  letters. 

"  I  have  dealt  with  all  the  rest,  sir.  That  letter  from 
Brussels  seems  to  be  rather  important." 

A  frown  appeared  on  Gaunt's  face  as  he  read. 

"  There  is  no  end  to  the  sickly  sentimentality  of  the 
English.  Why  can't  they  mind  their  own  business  and 
leave  the  Congo  to  work  out  its  own  salvation  ?  "  he  said 
irritably. 

"  1  don't  think  that  this  will  make  much  difference, 
sir.  It's  all  talk,  and  none  of  the  Powers  dare  make  any 
practical  move.  It's  England's  jealousy  of  Germany, 
and  vice  versa,  that  ties  their  hands.  But  are  things 
really  so  bad  as  people  make  out  ?  " 

"  Do  you  mean  —  are  the  niggers  compelled  to  work? 
If  so,  the  answer  is  —  yes,  and  the  means  used  to  make 
them  are  severe.  But  then,  severity  is  necessary." 

9  . 


10  THE    VOW 

"  But  the  cruelty  and  torture.     I  think " 

"  Then  don't  think ;  but  if  you  must,  pray  keep  your 
thoughts  to  yourself.  I  will  answer  this  letter.  About 
the  Amanti  Mine  —  has  any  cable  been  published  yet  ?  " 

"  No,  sir." 

"  Good.  What  time  is  the  appointment  with  Weiss 
and  his  crowd  ?  " 

"  Eleven  o'clock,  sir." 

Gaunt  glanced  at  the  clock  and  then  thought  for  a 
few  moments. 

"  Put  out  the  cigars  and  you  can  go.  Send  them  in 
as  soon  as  they  arrive." 

"  Yes,  sir." 

Alone,  John  Gaunt  paced  restlessly  to  and  fro,  and  the 
expression  on  his  face  was  not  a  pleasant  one.  To  all 
intents  and  purposes  the  foundation  of  his  vast  fortune 
rested  on  "  red  rubber."  It  was  the  Congo  that  had  sup- 
plied him  with  the  capital  necessary  for  his  first  financial 
schemes ;  and  the  revelations  of  the  methods  employed 
in  that  country  annoyed  him. 

Punctually  at  the  time  appointed  Weiss  arrived.  The 
man  was  a  typical  German-Jew,  who  had  made  a  fortune 
on  the  Rand,  and  with  him  there  came  two  other  men 
of  his  race.  The  latter  were  also  financiers  and  usually 
followed  where  Weiss  led,  greatly  to  the  advantage  of 
their  pockets. 

"  Good-morning,  Gaunt.  There's  a  cable  from  the 
manager  of  the  Amanti  Mine  just  come  in." 

Weiss'  accent  was  not  that  of  the  Jew  of  fiction  and 
the  stage,  for  he  spoke  slowly  and  correctly,  and  it  was 
only  by  intonation  that  he  showed  his  race. 

"  So  it  has  arrived  ?  "  Gaunt  answered  quickly. 


THE    VOW  11 


"Yes  —  and  we  thought  it  would  be  just  as  well  to 
come  to  an  understanding.  To  our  joint  account  you 
have  bought  about  twenty  thousand  shares  at  an  average 
of  seven  and  six." 

"  That  is  so,  Weiss." 

"  Good.  But  may  I  point  out  to  you  that  we  —  I  and 
my  two  friends  —  have  no  evidence  that  they  were 
bought  to  our  joint  account?"  Weiss  continued 
suavely. 

"  What  do  you  want  ? "  Gaunt  demanded,  and  there 
was  an  ugly  expression  in  his  eyes,  which  the  Jew  did 
not  observe. 

"  Just  a  little  piece  of  paper,  setting  out  the  facts,  and 
with  your  name  to  it." 

"  So  that's  your  errand.  Well,  you  won't  have  it,  for 
I'm  not  quite  a  fool,  Weiss.  Let  us  suppose  that  the 
sending  of  this  cable  was  traced  to  one  of  your  instru- 
ments." 

Weiss  rose  to  his  feet  and  gesticulated  furiously. 

"  What  do  you  mean  ?  " 

"  I  repeat  that  I  am  not  quite  a  fool.  I  know  that 
this  cable  is  a  fraud.  That  the  shares  will  be  rushed  up 
—  are  being  rushed  up  at  the  present  moment  —  and 
that  we  shall  reap  a  handsome  profit.  You  and  your 
friends  will  get  your  share  of  it.  So  you  thought  that 
you  could  hoodwink  me,  did  you?" 

"  I  don't  admit  that  the  cable  is  a  fraud.  But  that 
doesn't  matter.  What  concerns  me  is  that  we  are  en- 
tirely in  your  hands.  You  need  give  us  nothing,  if  you 
don't  want  to." 

"  Quite  right,  Weiss ;  but  you  must  remember  that  I 
happen  to  be  honest  according  to  my  lights.  No  man 


12 THE    VOW 

can  say  that  John  Gaunt  ever  went  back  on  his  word. 
If  I  make  a  promise  I  carry  it  out-  Isn't  that  my  repu- 
tation in  the  City?" 

"Yes  —  but  it  isn't  business,"  Weiss  answered  grudg- 
ingly. 

"  It  happens  to  be  my  way  of  doing  business  on  this 
occasion.  I  propose  to  sell  when  the  shares  are  above  a 
pound,  and  you  shall  have  a  check  directly  the  deal  is 
through.  Good-morning." 

As  soon  as  Weiss  and  his  friends  had  gone, 
Michael  Foster  entered  carrying  in  his  hand  a  slip  of 
paper. 

"  Amantis  have  risen  to  twelve  shillings,  sir,"  he  an- 
nounced. 

"  Let  me  know  when  they  reach  a  pound.  Are  there 
any  more  appointments  this  morning  ?  " 

"  No.  But  Mr.  George  Braithwaite  wishes  to  see 
you." 

"  Is  he  here  now  ?  " 

"  Yes,  sir.     Shall  I  send  him  in  ?  " 

John  Gaunt  nodded  his  head  and  dipped  his  hand  into 
the  box  from  which  he  took  a  big  cigar.  The  end  was 
cut  neatly  and  the  match  applied  with  great  care. 

"  Well,  Braithwaite,  what  can  I  do  for  you  ?  "  he  asked 
sharply. 

There  was  a  shamefaced  expression  on  the  face  of  the 
newcomer  that  gave  him  almost  a  shifty  look,  and  his 
clothes  showed  many  signs  of  wear. 

"  I  am  sorry  to  trouble  you  again,  old  chap ;  but 
things  are  very  bad.  I  haven't  a  penny  in  the  world 
and  the  family  are " 

"  That  is  quite  sufficient.     You  came  to  me  a  year  ago 


THE    VOW  13 

with  a  similar  sort  of  story.  I  gave  you  a  hundred 
pounds." 

"  You  were  very  generous " 

"  And  I  told  you  that  it  would  be  the  last  time  you 
got  any  money  from  me,"  Gaunt  said  curtly. 

"  I  know  that ;  but  things  are  really  bad.  There's  no 
food  in  the  house,  and  the  wife " 

"  I  am  a  man  of  my  word.  Surely  you  should  have 
realized  the  uselessness  of  this  call.  Have  you  ever 
known  me  change  when  I  have  once  made  up  my 
mind  ?  " 

"  I  am  desperate,  Gaunt.     We  are  starving " 

There  was  truth  in  the  man's  voice.  The  words  car- 
ried conviction  with  them,  but  Gaunt  showed  no  sign  of 
weakening. 

"  I  once  did  you  a  good  turn,"  Braithwaite  said  ap- 
pealingly. 

"  You  did  —  and  I  have  repaid  it  many  times 
over." 

As  he  spoke  his  fingers  pressed  the  button  of  the  elec- 
tric bell. 

"  Foster,  my  private  ledger." 

The  secretary  brought  the  book,  and  then  disappeared 
in  silence. 

"  You  did  me  a  good  turn  —  it's  quite  true  —  and  on 
no  less  than  six  occasions  you  have  come  to  me  for  as- 
sistance. The  last  time  I  told  you  that  it  should  end  — 
have  a  cigar  ?  " 

Braithwaite  rose  to  his  feet  and  his  body  swayed  a 
little. 

"  Look  at  that.  It's  a  pawn-ticket  for  my  wife's  wed- 
ding ring,"  he  said  hoarsely. 


14  THE    VOW 

"  I  don't  wish  to  be  rude,  but  I'm  really  busy.  I  am 
sorry  for  you  but  I  can  do  nothing.  You  should  have 
understood  that  the  last  hundred  pounds  was  the  end  of 
my  assistance.  I  told  you  so,  and  I  am  a  man  of  my 
word.  Good-morning." 

"  Gaunt,  remember  that  we  were  boys  together.  You 
with  your  millions  —  and  I  starving.  You  can't  refuse 
me.  Only  a  sovereign.  It  will  buy  food.  Ten  shill- 
ings —  even  a  shilling  will  get  us  bread." 

"  Not  one  penny." 

"  Curse  you  !  "  Braithwaite  cried  hysterically. 

"Don't  be  melodramatic — just  go  —  for  I'm  busy." 

Gaunt  felt  a  little  regret  when  he  was  alone,  but  the 
feeling  quickly  passed.  The  fact  that  he  had  said  that 
he  would  do  no  more  for  Braithwaite  rendered  anything 
but  refusal  impossible. 

Soon  he  was  again  interrupted  by  the  entrance  of 
Foster,  who  announced  that  Amantis  were  still  rising 
steadily.  Afterwards  lunch  was  brought  to  his  room  for 
he  had  found  it  impossible  to  eat  in  any  public  place. 
His  face  was  so  well  known  in  the  City  that  he  was 
liable  to  be  interrupted  by  the  many  people  who  sought 
favors. 

After  the  meal  was  over  his  secretary  came  in  to  an- 
nounce a  visitor. 

"  The  Reverend  Edward  Drake  would  like  to  see  you, 
sir." 

"  Isn't  that  the  parson  who  is  working  in  the  East 
End  ?  "  Gaunt  asked. 

"  Yes,  sir.  There  is  an  article  by  him  in  to-day's 
Times" 

"  Bring  it  to  me." 


THE    VOW 


Gaunt  took  the  paper  and  rapidly  scanned  the  column 
and  a  half. 

"  It  reads  all  right.  Quite  straightforward  and  no 
whining.  Send  him  in." 

It  was  with  some  interest  that  Gaunt  examined  the 
clergyman's  face,  and  he  was  not  disappointed.  Clean- 
cut  features,  noble  in  outline,  steady  eyes  that  regarded 
one  frankly.  The  lips  firm,  but  rather  full ;  and  the  ex- 
pression of  the  mouth  was  winning. 

"  What  do  you  want  ?  Money  ?  "  Gaunt  demanded 
bluntly. 

"  You  have  guessed  it,  Mr.  Gaunt.  I  see  you  have  the 
Times  there.  If  you  have  read  my  article,  there  is  no 
need  to  say  a  word.  I  know  you  are  a  busy  man,"  Mr. 
Drake  said  with  a  smile. 

While  he  spoke  the  two  men  were  regarding  one  an- 
other with  overt  curiosity  and  suddenly  they  both  smiled. 
Gaunt's  hand  had  gone  to  a  drawer  and  he  drew  forth  a 
check-book. 

"  Will  that  do  ?  "  he  asked,  as  he  handed  over  the  pink 
slip  of  paper. 

"  You  are  more  than  generous.     I  am  very  grateful." 

"  Show  your  gratitude  by  keeping  your  mouth  shut. 
I  am  not  buying  a  baronetcy." 

Mr.  Drake  had  risen.  There  was  a  flush  on  his  face, 
and  he  seemed  to  have  some  difficulty  in  speaking.  Just 
then  a  bell  tinkled  on  the  writing-table,  and  Gaunt  took 
up  the  receiver. 

"  Yes.     Put  me  through." 

He  listened  for  a  while,  and  his  face  became  very  white. 

"  I'll  come  at  once/'  he  said  and  threw  down  the  re- 
ceiver. 


16  THE    VOW 

"  Mr.  Gaunt,  I  must  thank  you  most " 

"  Get  out  of  the  way,  man.     My  wife's  ill,"   Gaunt 

cried  roughly,  and  seizing  his  hat,  hastened  from  the 

room. 


CHAPTER  III 

•*   X""">i  AN  nothing  be  done  ?  "  Gaunt  asked  in  a  voice 
that  was  hoarse  from  the  supreme  effort  made 

^^-^   to  control  it. 

"  We  have  done  everything  possible.  The  issue  is  out 
of  our  hands,"  Sir  Felix  Hellier  answered,  with  the  ever 
ready  sympathy  which  had  helped  him  to  attain  so  emi- 
nent a  position  in  his  profession. 

"  Will  she  die  ?  " 

Now  there  was  only  a  great  despair  in  Gaunt's  voice. 
The  physician  looked  keenly  at  the  famous  millionaire ; 
noted  the  lines  of  suffering  on  his  strong  face,  and  won- 
dered. To  the  world,  John  Gaunt  was  a  hard  man,  one 
whose  only  object  in  life  was  the  attainment  of  wealth  — 
one  who  would  sacrifice  ruthlessly  to  gain  that  end. 

Twelve  months  ago  he  had  surprised  every  one  by 
marrying  the  beauty  of  the  season  —  Lady  Mildred 
Blythe  —  and  the  general  comment  was  that  the  bride- 
groom was  moved  by  social  ambition ;  while  the  bride 
wished  to  exchange  a  life  of  aristocratic  poverty  for  one 
of  unlimited  wealth. 

And  now  the  wife  lay  on  a  bed  of  sickness,  fighting 
for  her  life ;  while  the  son  which  she  had  given  to  her 
husband  slumbered  peacefully  in  an  adjoining  room. 

"  Can  nothing  be  done?"  Gaunt  repeated  hoarsely. 

His  powerful  face  worked  painfully,  and  now  he  made 
no  effort  to  hide  his  distress. 

17 


i8 THE    VOW 

"  I  am  a  rich  man  —  and " 

"  Money  cannot  help  you.  The  issue  is  in  God's 
hands,"  Sir  Felix  said  gravely,  and  turned  towards  the 
door. 

"  You  are  not  going  to  leave  her  ?  " 

"  I  can  do  no  more.     The  nurse  is  quite  competent." 

"  Stay  and  I  will  pay  you  any  fee  you  like  to  ask," 
Gaunt  cried  passionately. 

Sir  Felix  smiled  slightly. 

"  There  are  patients  who  await  me,  and  I  may  be  able 
to  help  them.  Here  I  can  do  no  more." 

"  A  thousand  pounds  if  you  will  stay." 

"  Don't  tempt  me.  If  I  could  be  of  the  slightest  use  I 
would  remain.  Good-night." 

John  Gaunt  looked  wildly  at  the  door  which  had 
been  closed  so  quietly.  Then  a  deep  groan  came 
from  his  parched  lips  and  he  fell  back  heavily  into  an 
armchair. 

Twelve  hours  ago  he  had  been  so  content  with  his  lot. 
Rich  beyond  the  dreams  of  avarice — a  beautiful  wife 
whom  he  loved  —  and  who  he  believed  was  beginning 
to  care  for  him  in  return.  How  anxiously  he  had 
looked  forward  to  the  birth  of  their  child.  It  was 
upon  the  coming  of  the  babe  that  he  had  counted,  to 
awaken  in  Lady  Mildred's  heart  a  love  as  passionate 
as  his  own. 

Now  she  lay  a-dying,  and  he  could  do  nothing  to  help 
her.  In  that  lay  the  sting.  His  check-book  was 
powerless  and  it  seemed  strange  that  it  should  be  so. 
If  she  should  die  —  and  he  would  never  know  the  love 
that  he  had  sworn  to  arouse. 

The  issue  lay  in  God's  hands. 


THE    VOW  19 


In  God's  hands,  and  for  years  the  name  of  the  Deity 
had  never  been  on  his  lips,  save  as  an  imprecation.  In 
the  piling  up  of  his  fortune,  there  had  been  no  place  for 
religion,  and  he  had  left  his  youth  behind  him  with  but 
one  determination  —  to  amass  wealth  —  honestly  if  possi- 
ble —  but  to  amass  wealth.  And  he  had  succeeded  beyond 
his  most  sanguine  dreams.  There  was  not  a  financial 
pie  of  any  magnitude  in  which  Gaunt  had  not  a  finger ; 
and  his  rivals  in  the  city  gave  him  their  unstinted  ad- 
miration. No  brain  was  as  keen  as  his  when  the  result 
of  a  scheme  meant  money,  and  he  was  not  the  man  to 
allow  any  delicate  scruple  to  interfere  with  his  plans. 
One  principle  he  had  —  one  that  had  helped  him  enor- 
mously, for  John  Gaunt's  word  was  his  bond,  and  if  a 
bargain  were  once  made,  it  would  be  fulfilled  relent- 
lessly, even  should  it  result  in  loss.  But  this  latter  event 
happened  very  rarely. 

The  issue  lay  in  God's  hands. 

Could  he  influence  His  decision  ?  His  mind  went 
back  to  the  time  when  his  mother,  a  gracious  God-fear- 
ing woman,  was  living  —  his  mother  —  who  had  en- 
deavored to  teach  him  the  religion  which  had  guided 
her  every  action  until  the  day  of  her  death,  when  he  was 
some  sixteen  years  of  age.  It  had  been  her  custom  to 
pray  with  him  ;  but  her  influence  had  not  lasted  very 
long,  for  Fate  took  Gaunt  to  a  strange  land  —  to  the 
Congo  —  in  search  of  fortune,  and  in  that  country  and 
with  that  object,  religion  must  be  left  at  home.  So  the 
teaching  of  his  mother  had  been  forgotten. 

In  God's  hands ! 

Dare  he  approach  Him  ?  There  was  still  the  memory 
of  the  prayers  that  he  had  known,  but  there  was  also  the 


20  THE    VOW 

black  record  of  the  past.  The  scheming,  the  fight- 
ing, worse  than  that,  the  deliberate  robbing  within  the 
scope  of  the  law.  He  shuddered  to  remember  the 
countless  ruined  lives  which  lay  behind  him  in  the 
pursuit  of  wealth. 

Those  terrible  years  on  the  Congo ;  the  maiming  and 
torturing  of  human  beings  ;  the  shedding  of  blood  to  ac- 
quire wealth.  With  these  sins  on  his  soul  could  he  go 
down  on  his  knees  and  pray  God  to  give  him  the  life  of 
the  woman  he  loved  ? 

John  Gaunt  was  no  hypocrite  and  he  shuddered. 
There  was  not  the  excuse  of  ignorance ;  for  as  a  boy 
he  had  gone  to  church  and  accepted  God,  only  deliber- 
ately to  throw  Him  aside  when  Christianity  would  have 
interfered  with  his  ambition. 

"  I  can't  go  whining  back  to  Him  now  I  want  some- 
thing," he  said  miserably. 

How  still  everything  was  !  There  was  something 
ghostly  in  the  silence  of  the  large  library  where  he  sat. 
Above  him  his  wife  lay  battling  for  her  life,  and  he  could 
do  nothing  to  help.  Again  he  thought  over  what  the 
famous  specialist  had  said  and  he  realized  that  in  all 
human  probability  his  wife  was  doomed. 

Even  now  she  might  be  dead.  He  rose  and  walked 
quickly  up-stairs.  A  distant  wail  from  the  babe  greeted 
his  ears,  and  his  lips  were  grimly  pressed  into  a  straight 
line. 

The  son  and  heir  that  would  cost  him  his  beloved. 

Very  carefully  he  turned  the  handle  of  his  wife's 
room  and  entered.  The  nurse  was  standing  by  the  bed 
and  she  came  to  meet  him. 

"  How  is  she  ?  "  he  whispered  hoarsely. 


THE    VOW  21 

"  No  better,  I  am  afraid." 

And  he  stood  beside  the  bed  where  his  wife  lay 
breathing  heavily.  Even  in  that  moment  of  agony  he 
was  struck  afresh  by  her  great  beauty.  Never  had  she 
been  so  dear  to  him,  and  he  would  willingly  have 
given  all  that  he  possessed  in  the  world  to  keep  her 
with  him. 

Suddenly  he  fell  on  his  knees  and  took  her  burning 
hand  in  his.  The  nurse  moved  away  but  he  did  not 
heed  her.  His  eyes  were  closed,  and  his  lips  moved ; 
but  no  words  could  be  heard. 

"  I  believe  in  God  but  I  have  put  Him  from  my  life. 
I  have  lived  for  my  own  ends  and  have  committed  many 
sins.  I  cannot  hope  that  my  prayer  will  be  granted  for 
I  have  done  nothing  to  deserve  any  favor  at  Your 
hands." 

Formal  words  of  prayer  would  not  come  to  his  unac- 
customed lips.  He  spoke  as  if  he  were  addressing  some 
fellow  treing. 

"  But  as  I  have  done  evil  in  my  life,  so  I  have  the 
power  of  doing  good.  Give  me  the  life  of  my  wife  — 
give  her  back  to  me  —  and  I  vow  the  rest  of  my  days  to 
Your  service.  I  will  not  pretend  that  I  can  become  a 
Christian,  but  I  swear  to  You  —  and  I  keep  my  word  — 
that  every  action  of  my  life  shall  be  deliberately  thought 
out  and  shall  be  taken  in  accordance  with  the  teaching 
of  Christ.  I  will  try  to  right  the  wrongs  that  I  have 
done.  Grant  my  request  and  I  swear  by  the  memory  of 
my  mother  that  I  will  keep  my  side  of  the  bargain  in 
the  spirit  and  the  letter.  Should  I  be  in  doubt  at  any 
time,  I  will  go  to  the  best  Christian  that  I  know  and  I 
will  implicitly  carry  out  his  advice." 


22 THE    VOW 

John  Gaunt  rose  to  his  feet  and  there  was  a  dazed 
look  in  his  eyes.  The  nurse  drew  near  and  looked  at 
him  with  deep  sympathy. 

"  Her  breathing  seems  a  bit  easier,  sir,"  she  whispered. 


CHAPTER  IV 

JOHN  GAUNT'S  eyes  were    fixed    eagerly  on  his 
wife  and  the  suspense  was  unbearable.     Yes,  her 
breathing  did  seem  to  be  more  regular.     He  took 
the  nurse  almost  savagely  by  the  arm  and  dragged  her 
from  the  room. 

"  Tell  me  —  is  she  dying  ?  "  he  demanded  hoarsely. 

"  No,  sir.  I  think  your  wife  is  better.  Take  your 
hand  away.  You  hurt  me,"  she  said  gently. 

"  Sir  Felix.  Did  he  expect  this  change  for  the 
better  ?  " 

"  No.  He  thought  that  she  would  gradually  get 
worse." 

"  Is  there  a  chance  that  she  will  live  ?  "  he  asked,  and 
his  voice  was  tense  with  suppressed  emotion. 

"  How  can  I  tell?     I  am  not  a  doctor." 

«  No  —  you're  a  fool,"  he  said  savagely. 

He  ran  along  the  corridor  and  down-stairs  to  the 
library.  There  he  seized  the  telephone  book  and  looked 
up  a  number  which  he  gave  to  the  Exchange. 

"  Is  that  Sir  Felix  Hellier's  house  ?  —  Is  your  master 
in?  —  Tell  him  that  he  is  wanted  immediately — Mr. 
Gaunt,  Park  Lane  —  I  will  come  round  myself." 

His  face  worked  with  passion  as  he  strode  from  the 
room. 

"  The  car  at  once." 

He  gave  the  order  to  the  butler  and  looked  at  his 
watch.  Eleven  o'clock. 

23 


24  THE    VOW 


"  So  he's  not  to  be  disturbed.  We'll  soon  see  about 
that,"  he  muttered  as  he  walked  up  and  down  the  hall 
waiting  to  hear  the  sound  of  the  car,  and  as  soon  as  it 
arrived  he  rushed  away. 

"  62A  Harley  Street,  as  quickly  as  possible." 

The  chauffeur  looked  at  his  master  in  surprise,  but  at 
the  sight  of  his  face  he  pressed  in  the  clutch.  There 
was  no  thought  of  tires  or  police  as  he  speeded  along  to 
pull  up  with  a  jerk  at  the  house.  In  answer  to  the  ring 
a  butler  appeared  and  Gaunt  walked  into  the  hall. 

"  I  must  see  Sir  Felix  at  once.  It  is  imperative,"  he 
said  fiercely. 

"  My  master  gave  orders  that  he  was  not  to  be  dis- 
turbed. He  is  not  well  and  has  gone  to  bed.  Mr.  Per- 
cival  will  attend  to  any  urgent  case." 

"  Take  my  name  up  to  your  master." 

"  I  dare  not,"  the  servant  answered  respectfully. 

"  Then  stand  aside." 

So  saying  Gaunt  passed  and  ran  up  the  stairs.  When 
he  reached  the  landing  he  called  forth. 

«  Sir  Felix." 

All  was  silent  save  for  the  heavy  breathing  of  the 
butler  who  had  followed,  under  the  impression  that  he 
had  to  deal  with  a  lunatic. 

"  Which  is  your  master's  room  ? "  Gaunt  demanded 
roughly. 

"  Who  is  there?     What's  the  meaning  of  this  ?  " 

A  door  had  opened  and  Sir  Felix,  clothed  in  a  dress- 
ing-gown, appeared. 

"  It  is  John  Gaunt.  You  must  come  at  once.  The 
nurse  says  that  my  wife  is  better." 

"  Mr.  Gaunt,  you  forget  yourself,  I  think." 


THE    VOW 25 

"  I  only  remember  that  you  are  my  wife's  doctor. 
She  needs  you,  and  you  must  come." 

"  You  are  acting  very  strangely.  I  left  instructions 
that  Mr.  Percival  should  attend  to  any  pressing  cases." 

"  Sir  Felix,  you  will  come  back  with  me  at  once. 
You  told  me  that  you  could  do  no  more.  You  said  the 
issue  was  in  God's  hands.  I  believe  that  He  has  decided 
the  issue.  But  I  am  taking  no  risks.  You  may  be  able 
to  help,  and  must  come  with  me." 

"  I  think  you  cannot  quite  be  responsible  for  what  you 
are  saying.  I  am  not  used  to " 

Gaunt  almost  pushed  him  back  into  his  room. 

"  Get  your  clothes  on  and  don't  talk.  I  won't  leave 
this  spot  until  you  promise  to  accompany  me.  Do  you 
understand  ?  " 

The  look  of  anger  left  Sir  Felix's  face  and  he  smiled 
faintly. 

"  That's  better.  If  my  wife  lives,  there's  a  blank 
check,  which  you  can  fill  in  for  any  amount,"  Gaunt 
continued  eagerly. 

A  few  minutes  later  they  were  seated  in  the  car  and 
the  rapid  pace  made  Sir  Felix  utter  an  ejaculation. 

"  Is  this  quite  safe  ?  "  he  said  deprecatingly. 

There  was  no  answer  for  hope  had  surged  to  Gaunt's 
heart  and  he  could  only  think  of  what  the  next  few 
hours  would  bring  forth. 

"  I  don't  think  you  had  better  come  in  with  me.  You 
shall  know,  at  the  earliest  possible  moment,"  Sir  Felix 
said  suavely,  when  they  reached  the  door  of  the  bedroom. 

"  I  shall  be  in  the  library." 

And  there  Gaunt  went.  An  abstemious  man  —  he 
poured  out  half  a  tumbler  of  neat  brandy,  which  he 


26  THE    VOW 


gulped  down.  His  hands  trembled  as  he  endeavored  to 
light  a  cigar. 

The  moments  passed,  oh,  so  slowly,  and  his  agitation 
increased.  What  would  be  the  verdict  ?  Death,  and  with 
it  the  vanishing  of  all  life's  sweetness.  Life  —  and  —  his 
wife. 

How  long  it  was  he  knew  not,  but  at  last  Sir  Felix 
entered. 

"  Lady  Mildred  has  taken  a  turn  for  the  better." 

«  She  will  live  ?  " 

"  I  cannot  say  yet,  but  there  is  hope.  Why  don't  you 
lie  down  and  rest  ?  It  may  be  an  hour  or  two  before  I 
can  tell  you  definitely." 

"  Rest  —  what  do  you  think  I'm  made  of?  Have  you 
any  idea  what  my  wife  means  to  me  ?  "  Gaunt  asked 
hoarsely. 

"  Still  I  think  you  should  rest.  You  have  evidently 
been  enduring  a  great  strain,"  Sir  Felix  persisted  gently. 

"  Go  back  to  her,  and  I  will  await  your  verdict." 

"  Your  wife  has  a  wonderful  constitution.  Ninety-nine 
out  of  a  hundred  women  would  have  already  succumbed." 

Sir  Felix  cast  a  curious  look  at  the  bowed  head  of  the 
millionaire  and  went  back  to  his  patient.  The  nurse  was 
standing  by  the  side  of  the  bed  and  holding  a  spoon  to 
Lady  Mildred's  lips. 

"  She  has  recovered  consciousness,  sir,"  she  whispered. 

The  eyes  of  the  sick  woman  followed  the  doctor  as  he 
approached,  and  her  lips  moved. 

"  My  baby." 

"  Fetch  the  child,  nurse." 

"  Doctor,  I  thought  I  was  dead  —  am  I  dying  ?  " 

"  No  —  not  if  you  want  to  live.     It  rests  with  yourself." 


THE    VOW  27 


The  sound  of  a  cry  —  not  feeble,  but  almost  shrill,  and 
that  wonderful  "  mother-look  "  came  into  Lady  Mildred's 
eyes.  The  baby  was  placed  by  her  side,  and  as  it  nestled 
to  her  breast,  she  sighed. 

"  I  shall  not  die —  with  this " 

The  words,  little  more  than  a  whisper,  could  scarcely  be 
heard.  The  nurse  held  her  breath  and  bent  down  to  her 
patient,  while  Sir  Felix's  fingers  rested  on  Lady  Mildred's 
pulse,  and  it  was  evident  that  he,  too,  was  full  of  anxiety. 

"  My  little  baby." 

Her  breathing  now  was  more  regular,  and  the  faintest 
tinge  of  color  came  to  her  cheeks. 

"  She  is  asleep,"  the  nurse  whispered  triumphantly. 

«  Hush  ! " 

Neither  of  them  moved,  and  the  pulsations  told  their 
tale  to  the  physician.  It  was  a  long  time  that  they 
waited,  and  at  last  Sir  Felix  withdrew  his  hand.  And 
now  his  thoughts  were  of  the  husband.  Only  too  well 
did  he  know  the  reputation  of  John  Gaunt  —  heartless  in 
his  pursuit  of  fortune  —  and  yet  he  must  love  this  woman 
to  distraction.  The  world,  too,  had  its  opinion  of  Lady 
Mildred.  Her  life,  until  a  month  or  two  ago,  had  been 
that  of  the  ultra-fashionable  woman  of  to-day.  Appar- 
ently thoughtless  of  everything  save  the  extraction  of 
every  possible  enjoyment  from  each  moment  of  her  life. 
What  was  there  in  her  to  arouse  so  great  a  passion  in  such 
a  man  as  John  Gaunt?  True  she  was  very  beautiful, but 
that  in  itself  was  not  sufficient  to  account  for  such  a 
love. 

"  The  man  behaved  like  a  madman,"  he  muttered  to 
himself. 

Should  he  go  down  and  relieve  him  of  his  anxiety  ? 


28  THE    VOW 

No.  This  time  there  should  be  no  mistake,  and  he  would 
wait  until  he  could  be  absolutely  certain. 

In  the  meantime  John  Gaunt  was  pacing  restlessly  to 
and  fro.  Deep  lines  had  appeared  on  his  face,  and  his 
eyes  were  strained.  The  stronger  a  man's  character,  the 
greater  his  capacity  for  suffering,  and  Gaunt  was  a  strong 
man.  As  the  minutes  passed  his  agitation  lessened  —  not 
that  he  suffered  any  the  less  acutely  —  but  his  mind  had 
become  dazed. 

He  thought  over  each  event  of  the  day.  His  actions 
in  the  City,  and  he  vividly  remembered  his  interview  with 
Braithwaite.  Had  the  man  succeeded  in  obtaining 
money,  or  was  his  family  still  without  food  ?  Not  that  he 
felt  any  greater  sympathy  for  him  —  he  only  wondered. 

Then  the  deal  in  Amanti  shares,  and  he  muttered  an 
exclamation  of  anger  when  he  remembered  that  he  had 
forgotten  to  leave  instructions  with  Foster. 

"  Surely  he  will  have  the  sense  to  realize,"  he  muttered. 

Yes.  That  was  a  smart  piece  of  business,  and  would 
net  in  a  few  thousands. 

Then  came  the  visit  from  the  parson.  He  was  glad 
that  he  had  been  generous,  and  he  smiled  wanly  at  the 
memory  of  his  abrupt  departure.  What  agony  he  had 
suffered  as  he  hastened  home  —  what  hours  of  torture 
which  had  culminated  in  that  moment  when  he  had  knelt 
by  his  wife's  side. 

He,  John  Gaunt,  had  prayed.  Every  word  that  he  had 
said  was  burnt  into  his  brain. 

"  Give  me  the  life  of  my  wife,  and  I  vow  the  rest  of  my 
life  to  Your  service.  Every  action  of  my  life  shall  be 
deliberately  thought  outt  and  shall  be  in  accordance  with 
the  teaching  of  Christ'' 


THE    VOW  29 


He  trembled  when  he  remembered  the  words,  and  a 
feeling  of  awe  overwhelmed  him  as  he  realized  what  he 
had  promised.  The  trembling  increased  until  it  reached 
every  limb,  and  his  step  was  a  stagger  as  he  endeavored 
to  reach  a  chair  into  which  he  fell  back  heavily. 

"  I  have  made  a  bargain  with  God, "he  said  hoarsely.    \ 

It  was  immediately  after  he  had  risen  from  his  knees 
that  the  nurse  had  told  him  that  his  wife  seemed  to  be  a 
little  better.  Was  that  an  answer  to  his  prayer  ?  Had 
the  bargain  been  ratified  from  above  ? 

To  John  Gaunt  the  silence  of  the  room  seemed  death- 
like. He  tried  to  moisten  his  parched  lips  and  then  sud- 
denly leapt  to  his  feet. 

"  What  was  that  sound  ?  " 

The  handle  of  the  door  turned,  and  Sir  Felix  appeared ; 
a  reassuring  smile  on  his  face. 

"  My  dear  sir,  I  am  happy  to  tell  you  that  your  wife  is 
out  of  danger." 

Gaunt  staggered,  fell  back  and  clutched  wildly  at  the 
chair.  Sir  Felix  ran  to  the  table  and  brought  a  glass  of 
brandy. 

"  Drink  this.  Ah !  That's  better.  Now  you  must 
go  to  bed.  A  good  sleep  and  you  will  be  all  right." 

Still  Gaunt  did  not  speak.  His  eyes  had  a  vacant  look 
and  his  lips  were  tremulous. 

"  Thank  you,  Sir  Felix.  Don't  stay  any  longer.  It 
was  good  of  you  to  come.  Good-night." 

"  Take  my  advice  and  go  to  bed.  Good-night,"  Sir 
Felix  said  drily. 

John  Gaunt  never  knew  how  long  he  rested  there 
motionless,  save  for  the  twitching  of  his  limbs.  There 
was  much  to  be  thought  out.  His  wife  would  live. 


30  THE    VOW 


God  had  decided  the  issue,  and  now  there  was  his  own 
side  of  the  bargain  to  be  fulfilled. 

His  quick  mind  told  him  what  the  vow  meant  —  the 
upheaval  of  his  life  —  the  changing  of  everything  — 
"  red  rubber  "  must  go  —  the  Amanti  deal  —  everything 
must  be  different. 

Could  he  carry  out  what  he  had  promised  —  hon- 
estly, and  completely  ? 

Suddenly  his  face  cleared  and  he  rose.  There  was 
a  steady  light  in  his  eyes  and  his  lips  were  pressed 
firmly  together. 

"  God  has  kept  His  side  of  the  bargain,  and,  by 
Heaven,  I'll  keep  mine,"  he  said  in  a  low  voice. 

At  last  he  slowly  made  his  way  up-stairs  and  paused 
at  the  door  of  the  room  where  his  wife  lay.  Sir  Fe- 
lix had  been  mistaken  in  saying  that  she  would  die, 
so  might  he  not  be  equally  mistaken  in  his  judgment 
that  she  would  live  ?  As  he  entered  the  nurse  looked  at 
him,  a  sympathetic  smile  on  her  face. 

"  Don't  make  a  sound,  sir.  She  is  sleeping  so  peace- 
fully," she  whispered. 

He  stood  by  the  side  of  the  bed  and  he  was  reassured, 
for  the  change  was  wonderful.  At  her  breast  the  child 
lay,  and  the  sight  brought  a  choking  sensation  to  his 
throat.  This  atom  of  humanity  was  their  child  —  his 
son  and  hers.  Now  there  was  no  doubt  in  his  mind  that 
Lady  Mildred  would  love  him,  and  in  time,  as  passion- 
ately as  he  loved  her.  How  strenuously  he  had  fought 
to  win  her.  With  what  care  he  had  considered  his 
every  action  towards  her.  And  the  result  had  been 
negative.  Each  overture  had  been  received  with  a  smile 
and  deftly  turned  aside.  Since  their  wedding  day  there 


THE    VOW  31 


had  been  no  frankness  between  them.  Perhaps  Lady 
Mildred  had  discovered  the  intensity  of  his  feeling 
towards  her,  and  was  half  afraid  of  it. 

The  baby  moved  restlessly  and  in  an  instant  the  nurse 
had  taken  it  up,  and  was  hurrying  into  the  next  room. 

"  Please  don't  take  him  away." 

Lady  Mildred  had  awakened  and  she  spoke  appeal- 
ingly  to  the  nurse. 

"  Very  well,  my  lady.  But  you  mustn't  let  him  dis- 
turb you." 

"  He  won't  trouble  me,"  Lady  Mildred  answered 
softly,  as  the  child  once  more  nestled  to  her  breast. 

Then  for  the  first  time  she  realized  that  her  husband 
was  present,  and  a  faint  tinge  of  color  came  to  her 
cheeks. 

"  Isn't  he  a  dear  ?  "  she  whispered,  and  he  bent  over 
and  reverently  touched  her  forehead  with  his  lips. 

"  You  must  not  talk,"  the  nurse  said  firmly. 

"  Just  a  few  words  more,"  Lady  Mildred  said,  and  her 
eyes  were  fixed  on  her  husband. 

Gaunt  gave  a  little  gasp  at  what  he  saw  in  them. 
There  was  something  akin  to  love,  and  he  bent  down 
eagerly  to  hear  what  she  was  about  to  say. 

"  I  thought  I  was  dying,  John.  I  imagined  that  my 
soul  had  left  my  body  when  you  came  and  took  me  by 
the  hand  —  it  was  you,  John ;  and  yet  you  were  very 
different.  Don't  laugh  at  me,  dear,  but  it  almost  seemed 
as  though  an  angel  were  by  my  side.  Your  face  was  very 
beautiful,  and  your  eyes  shone  with  a  strange  light. 
And  as  you  held  my  hand  I  felt  that  I  was  not  dead,  but 
that  I  must  struggle  to  live.  Your  lips  moved  and  ut- 
tered strange  words  of  prayer.  I  struggled  to  live,  and 


32  THE    VOW 

then  —  I  can  remember  no  more.  But  wasn't  it  a  funny 
dream  ?  Just  think  of  it  —  John  Gaunt  an  angel ! "  she 
whispered  whimsically. 

"  Mr.  Gaunt,  I  must  ask  you  to  leave  the  room  at 
once.  It  is  essential  that  my  patient  should  rest,"  the 
nurse  said  severely. 

"  Run  away,  dear.  I  want  to  get  well,"  and  Lady  Mil- 
dred turned  to  her  baby. 

Gaunt  once  more  kissed  his  wife,  and  then,  with  a  sense 
of  awe,  his  son. 

His  step  was  buoyant  as  he  walked  to  his  room.  His 
valet,  drowsy-eyed,  rose  to  perform  his  nightly  duties, 
but  was  summarily  dismissed.  But  Gaunt  had  no  wish 
for  bed,  for  he  knew  only  too  well  that  sleep  was  far 
away.  There  was  so  much  to  be  thought  over  —  the 
wonderful  love  that  he  had  seen  in  his  wife's  eyes,  and  a 
few  hours  ago  he  had  imagined  that  she  was  lost  to  him. 
A  shudder  shook  him  at  the  memory  of  it,  and  then  his 
mind  naturally  turned  to  the  vow  that  he  had  made. 
Now  that  he  was  relieved  of  immediate  anxiety  about 
Lady  Mildred,  he  had  time  to  think  what  it  really  meant. 

He  had  promised  that  every  action  of  his  life  should 
be  in  keeping  with  the  teachings  of  Christ.  There  could 
be  no  shuffling  from  the  issue,  for  a  solemn  bargain  had 
been  made.  God  had  fulfilled  His  part,  and  the  rest  re- 
mained with  himself.  A  grim  smile  twitched  at  his 
mouth  as  he  began  to  understand  the  revolution  to  which 
he  was  bound.  Slowly  memory  was  returning  and  his 
thoughts  went  back  to  his  boyhood. 

The  teaching  of  one's  youth  is  never  really  forgotten. 
It  may  lie  dormant  for  years,  but  even  in  old  age  it  will 
return. 


THE    VOW  33 


At  fourteen  years  of  age  religion  had  been  a  very  real 
thing  to  him,  thanks  to  his  mother's  influence,  and  he 
had  striven  to  follow  her  teaching.  He  could  remember 
that  his  nightly  prayer  was  not  merely  the  formal  utter- 
ance of  words,  but  was  the  expression  of  what  was  truly 
in  his  mind.  Yes  ;  as  a  boy  he  had  honestly  endeavored 
to  lead  a  Christian  life,  and  he  had  been  neither  a  prig 
nor  a  hypocrite. 

And  for  the  last  fifteen  years  his  every  thought  had 
been  of  self.  His  only  guide  had  been  ambition,  and  its 
accompanying  desire  for  wealth. 

The  brain  has  an  odd  way  of  turning  to  subjects  that 
are  out  of  keeping  with  one's  frame  of  mind,  and  Gaunt 
found  himself  wondering  if  Foster  had  sold  the  Amanti 
shares,  and  if  the  price  had  been  a  suitable  one. 

Why  had  those  shares  been  bought  ?  Because  of  his 
knowledge  of  the  fraud. 

There  could  be  no  doubt  that  if  he  intended  to  keep 
his  vow,  it  was  not  possible  for  him  to  participate  in  such 
profits. 

And  thus  it  was  brought  acutely  to  his  mind  what  his 
future  life  must  be,  unless  he  would  perjure  himself. 

A  follower  of  Christ  in  the  City,  and  he  laughed  dis- 
cordantly at  the  idea. 


CHAPTER  V 

THE  Reverend  Edward  Drake  lived  in  the  East 
End  of  London.  Although  in  Holy  Orders, 
he  held  no  living,  nor  yet  a  curacy ;  but  busied 
himself  in  doing  good  according  to  his  own  ideas.  His 
study  was  the  only  room  in  the  house  that  was  properly 
furnished,  and  on  its  walls  were  displayed  many  athletic 
trophies,  which  he  had  won  at  Oxford. 

The  chair  in  which  he  sat  bore  signs  of  wear,  and 
might  have  been  a  legacy  from  his  undergraduate  days. 
The  pipe,  which  was  gripped  by  even  white  teeth,  was 
charred  and  battered,  and  was  evidently  an  old  friend. 

The  remains  of  a  substantial  breakfast  lay  on  the  table, 
and  Drake  quickly  read  the  letters  of  the  morning. 
When  he  had  finished,  his  old  housekeeper  brought  him 
a  note  which  had  just  been  delivered  by  a  messenger. 

It  was  from  John  Gaunt,  and  asked  for  an  appoint- 
ment at  the  earliest  possible  moment. 

"  /  am  quite  willing  to  come  to  you,  but  should  you  be 
near  the  West  End  to-day,  I  shall  be  glad  if  you  will 
call.  Perhaps  you  will  lunch  with  me." 

"  The  man  is  very  polite.  I  wonder  what  he  wants  ?  " 
he  muttered. 

It  was  but  yesterday  that  he  had  been  to  Gaunt's  of- 
fice, when  he  had  received  a  check  for  so  unexpectedly 
large  an  amount.  Although  they  had  been  together  but 
a  few  minutes,  he  was  intensely  interested  in  the  mil- 
lionaire. For  one  thing,  he  had  been  unable  to  fix 

34 


THE    VOW  35 

Gaunt  in  his  proper  place.  He  could  not  decide 
whether  his  predominant  traits  were  good  or  evil  and 
he  longed  for  an  opportunity  to  find  out.  It  was  natural 
that  he  should  imagine  what  untold  good  could  be  done 
by  a  man  with  the  power  of  millions  in  his  hands.  As  a 
matter  of  fact,  during  his  return  from  the  City  to  the 
East  End,  Drake  had  been  dreaming  dreams.  He  had 
been  planning  what  he  would  do  if  he  were  the  pos- 
sessor of  such  wealth,  and  the  problem  proved  to  be  fas- 
cinating in  the  extreme. 

After  a  little  consideration  he  decided  to  lunch  with 
Gaunt,  and  so  scribbled  a  note  to  that  effect  which  he 
gave  to  the  messenger.  Then  he  started  on  his  morn- 
ing's work  with  whole-hearted  energy.  It  was  a  pitiful 
task,  for  he  had  devoted  his  life  to  the  submerged  —  to 
those  victims  of  misfortune  and  incompetence  or  laziness, 
or  drink,  who  dragged  out  their  weary  existence  in  hid- 
den corners  and  out  of  sight. 

First  he  would  try  to  give  them  a  little  physical 
strength  by  feeding  them,  and  then  to  give  them  an  op- 
portunity of  making  another  effort  to  regain  their  foot- 
hold on  life.  It  was  marvellous  how  successful  he  had 
been,  although  at  times  despondency  held  him  in  its 
grip.  But  now,  thanks  to  Gaunt's  generosity,  he  would 
be  able  to  enlarge  the  scope  of  his  work,  and  carry  out 
many  new  schemes. 

To  his  astonishment  a  luxurious  motor-car  pulled  u^» 
before  his  house,  which  he  found  had  been  sent  by 
Gaunt  to  take  him  to  Park  Lane.  A  smile  lit  up  his 
face  as  he  sank  back  against  the  comfortable  cushions, 
for  his  rather  shabby  attire  was  strangely  out  of  keeping 
with  such  magnificence. 


36  THE    VOW 

A  crowd  of  urchins  had  gathered  round,  and  they 
gave  a  wild  cheer  when  he  started.  Drake  looked  back 
and  gaily  waved  his  hand. 

"  I  feel  as  if  I  were  out  on  the  spree,"  he  said  aloud. 

"  I  beg  your  pardon,  sir  ?  "  the  chauffeur  said  politely. 

"  Don't  mention  it.     What  a  very  fine  car  you  drive." 

"  Yes,  sir.  It's  a  sixty  horse  Magnus,"  the  man  an- 
swered proudly,  and  then  proceeded  to  tell  the  numerous 
good  points  his  car  possessed  over  every  other  in  the 
market. 

Drake  listened  with  a  pleased  smile,  for  he  was  enjoy- 
ing himself  immensely. 

"  I  wonder  if  I  might  sit  in  front  with  you  ?  "  he  re- 
marked ingratiatingly,  and  the  chauffeur  put  on  the 
brake.  "  I  like  to  watch  you  working  the  pedals." 

But  Drake  sighed  a  little  when  the  car  stopped  before 
the  Gaunt  palace,  as  though  his  holiday  had  come  to  an 
end.  But  it  was  not  so,  for  lunch  was  ready,  and  the 
millionaire  and  himself  were  alone.  How  dainty  every- 
thing was !  Not  too  much  magnificence  for  comfort. 
Then  the  food  and  the  wine.  Drake  was  no  gourmet, 
but  he  liked  his  meals  to  be  nicely  cooked  and  would  al- 
ways prefer  a  bottle  of  beer  to  a  cheap  claret. 

"  I  suppose  this  wine  is  very  expensive,"  he  said  re- 
flectively, and  then  blushed  furiously  as  he  realized  the 
bad  taste  of  his  remark.  "  Forgive  me,  Mr.  Gaunt,  but  I 
so  seldom  eat  with  any  one  that  I  fear  I  get  in  the  habit 
of  talking  to  myself." 

Gaunt  smiled,  for  he  was  beginning  to  feel  a  liking  for 
Edward  Drake.  There  had  been  a  little  doubt  when  he 
had  sent  the  letter,  but  the  doubt  had  quickly  disap- 
peared now  that  they  had  been  together  for  a  while. 


THE    VOW  37 

"Do  you  smoke?"  Gaunt  asked  abruptly. 

"  Yes.     It  is  my  one  extravagance,"  Drake  replied. 

As  soon  as  they  reached  the  library,  Gaunt  went  to  a 
cabinet,  and  from  it  chose  one  of  the  cigars  which  he 
kept  for  himself  and  his  most  intimate  friends.  Drake 
snipped  off  the  end  and  carefully  applied  a  match. 
Then  he  threw  himself  back  into  the  chair  and  took  two 
or  three  luxurious  puffs. 

"  It  is  almost  worth  while  being  a  millionaire,"  he  re- 
marked meditatively. 

"  May  I  send  you  a  box  ?  "  Gaunt  asked  politely. 

"  My  dear  sir,  I  couldn't  think  of  accepting  such  a 
gift.  No  —  no.  I  must  be  content  with  my  pipe.  But 
you  are  very  generous,  and  I  thank  you." 

Gaunt  knew  that  it  would  be  useless  to  insist,  and  he 
respected  Drake  the  more  for  his  decision.  He  too  lit  a 
cigar  and  brought  his  chair  near  the  other  one. 

"  Mr.  Drake,  I  don't  quite  know  how  to  begin,"  he 
said  doubtfully. 

"  Take  your  own  time." 

"  I  am  afraid  that  you  will  think  me  a  trifle  mad  when 
you  hear  what  I  have  to  say.  First  I  want  you  to  an- 
swer me  a  question  —  and  frankly.  Will  you  do  so  ?  " 

"  To  the  best  of  my  ability,"  Drake  answered  gravely, 
for  he  recognized  that  Gaunt  was  grimly  in  earnest. 

"  Why  did  you  come  to  me  for  a  check?  From  what 
you  knew  of  my  character,  did  you  think  you  were  likely 
to  get  one  ?  "  Gaunt  asked  bluntly. 

"  My  experience  tells  me  that  checks  are  often  ob- 
tained from  the  most  unlikely  quarters." 

"Then  you  considered  me  an  unlikely  quarter? 
Frankly,  what  have  you  heard  about  me  ?  " 


38  THE    VOW 

i      — •»—  .    ~»->«. 

"  You  wish  me  to  tell  you  —  frankly  ?  " 

"  Yes,"  Gaunt  cried  impatiently. 

"  I've  not  heard  much  to  your  credit.  They  say  you 
aren't  too  particular  about  the  way  you  make  money  — 
so  long  as  you  make  it.  Then  your  connection  with 
'  red  rubber '  does  not  predispose  people  in  your  favor." 

"  Thank  you." 

"  But  I've  always  heard  that  you  are  a  man  to  be 
trusted.  You  hold  a  promise  to  be  a  sacred  thing,  and 
that  is  something  nowadays.  Since  yesterday,  I  can 
place  generosity  to  your  credit,  and  now  that  I  know  you 
personally,  I  am  inclined  to  think  that  you  have  not  al- 
lowed the  world  to  see  your  true  character.  Am  I  right  ?  " 

"  God  only  knows  what  my  real  character  is.  At  any 
rate  rumor  hasn't  lied,  I've  been  a  thorough  bad  lot  — 
how  bad,  I  am  only  just  beginning  to  realize." 

Gaunt  paused,  and  the  two  men  looked  at  one  another 
in  silence. 

"  I  would  like  to  be  your  friend,  and  help  you  in  any 
way  that  is  in  my  power,"  Drake  said  quietly. 

"  That's  why  I  sent  for  you.  I  want  your  help,  and 
you're  the  only  parson  I've  met  in  whom  I  should  care 
to  confide.  I  believe  that  you  are  a  man  —  a  man  of 
God,  and  such  a  one  can  help  me." 

Again  Gaunt  paused,  and  it  might  have  been  thought 
that  he  was  nervous. 

"  I  am  a  priest,  and  anything  you  may  say  will  be 
held  as  spoken  in  confidence,"  Drake  said  earnestly. 

"  When  I  left  you  yesterday  so  hurriedly,  I  came  here  • 
and  Sir  Felix  Hellier  told  me  that  my  wife  was  dying.  I 
cannot  describe  to  you  my  sufferings,  for  she  is  very 
dear  to  me.  For  a  while  I  was  in  the  deepest  despair 


THE    VOW  39 


and  had  given  up  all  hope.  I  am  no  Christian,  Mr. 
Drake.  I  have  not  allowed  religion  to  influence  me  one 
iota;  but  I  remembered  the  teaching  of  my  childhood, 
and  as  the  last  resource  of  desperation,  I  prayed." 

Gaunt's  voice  had  sunk  almost  to  a  whisper,  and  Drake 
realized  that  he  was  deeply  affected. 

"  I  offered  God  a  bargain  —  in  return  for  my  wife's 
life  I  promised  that  I  would  endeavor  to  act  as  a  Chris- 
tian and  that  each  action  of  my  life  should  be  dictated 
by  the  teachings  of  Christ." 

Drake  started  up  in  his  chair,  and  his  hands  tightly 
clutched  the  arms.  There  was  an  expression  of  extreme 
wonderment  on  his  face. 

"  Your  wife  is  living  —  and " 

"  Yes.  My  wife  will  live.  Almost  immediately  after- 
wards she  took  a  turn  for  the  better,"  Gaunt  answered 
quietly. 

Again  there  was  a  silence,  and  Drake  lived  each  sec- 
ond of  it.  His  eyes  were  fixed  keenly  on  Gaunt's  face, 
and  he  could  see  nothing  ignoble  there.  It  was  strong, 
but  could  human  man  carry  out  such  a  vow?  He 
wanted  to  speak  but  dared  not.  Like  a  flash  it  was  re- 
vealed to  him  what  a  great  issue  was  at  stake.  Should 
this  millionaire  be  honest  enough  to  carry  out  his  vow, 
untold  good  would  result.  But  his  hope  fell  instantly. 
Such  a  man  as  Gaunt  —  who  had  lived  as  he  had  lived, 
could  not  revolutionize  his  character  by  the  mere  making 
of  a  vow.  To  keep  such  a  bargain  was  an  impossibility 
—  and  —  yet 

Yes.  There  was  a  steady  look  on  Gaunt's  face.  He 
did  not  flinch,  but  had  the  air  of  one  who  was  weighted 
with  a  great  burden. 


40  THE    VOW 

"  Why  have  you  told  me  that  ? "  Drake  demanded 
hoarsely. 

"  I  haven't  yet  finished.  I  went  further  than  I  have 
said,  for  I  vowed  to  right  the  wrongs  that  I  have  done. 
Just  imagine  what  that  means.  It's  a  Herculean  task," 
Gaunt  said  with  a  laugh  that  contained  no  mirth. 

"  Still  I  do  not  quite  understand  why  you  send  for 
me,"  Drake  said  quietly. 

"  Because  I  don't  know  what  to  do,  and  I  want  your 
advice." 

"  You  intend  to  carry  out  the  promise  you  made  to 
God,  not  merely  in  the  letter,  but  in  the  spirit?" 

"  I  intend  to  keep  my  promise,  and  at  the  time,  I  made 
no  reservations.  I  understood  what  I  was  saying  and  I 
consider  my  wife's  life  worth  any  sacrifice,"  Gaunt  an- 
swered doggedly. 

Drake  did  not  speak  but  gave  the  millionaire  a  search- 
ing look.  His  brain  was  working  at  high  pressure,  for 
he  realized  that  Gaunt  was  serious  in  his  intention  of 
performing  his  vow. 

"  I  wonder  if  you  have  any  conception  of  the  magni- 
tude of  your  undertaking?"  he  asked  very  quietly. 

"  I  am  just  beginning  to  catch  a  glimpse  of  it.  As  I 
have  already  told  you  I  am  not  a  Christian,  but  I  have 
some  idea  of  the  meaning  of  religion.  I  realize  that  I 
shall  have  to  regard  everything  from  a  different  point  of 
view,  and  I  fear  that  the  task  is  beyond  me.  That's 
where  you  come  in." 

"  Still  I  do  not  understand." 

"  It's  simple  enough.  I'm  going  to  make  you  my 
conscience.  You  know  exactly  what  I  have  got  to  do, 
and  it  will  be  your  duty  to  see  that  I  do  it.  I  can  fore- 


THE    VOW 41 

see  many  situations  which  will  require  delicate  judgment, 
but  I  have  confidence  in  you.  I  now  formally  offer  you 
the  post  of  private  chaplain  to  John  Gaunt,  millionaire, 
at  any  salary  which  you  like  to  name.  It  strikes  me 
that  the  post  will  be  no  sinecure,"  Gaunt  wound  up 
quickly. 

A  look  of  distress  came  into  Drake's  face. 

"  I  cannot  accept  such  a  position.  The  responsibility 
would  be  too  great." 

"  Think  a  moment.  Remember  the  power  for  good 
that  will  rest  in  your  hands.  Dare  you  refuse  my  offer?" 

"  It  is  such  a  vast  thing.  To  right  the  wrongs  that 
you  have  done.  How  can  you  contemplate  the  task  so 
calmly  ?  Do  you  forget  the  origin  of  your  fortune  ?  Do 
you  forget  the  Congo?  —  with  its  cruelty  and  torture?" 

"  I  forget  nothing.  What  I  have  promised  I  will  en- 
deavor to  carry  out,"  Gaunt  said  quietly,  but  his  face  had 
grown  very  white. 

"  It  may  be  your  duty  to  use  your  millions  to  fight 
the  rulers  of  the  Congo  —  to  compel  them  to  make  the 
iniquities  cease  ?  Do  you  realize  that  and  can  you  carry 
it  out?" 

"  Yes.  To  know  me  thoroughly,  Drake,  you  must 
understand  that  I  don't  value  my  wealth  one  jot,  save  for 
the  power  it  gives  me." 

"  I  believe  the  man  is  in  earnest,"  Drake  muttered, 
and  he  gazed  at  Gaunt  with  something  akin  to  admira- 
tion. "  Will  you  give  me  a  day  to  think  over  the  pro- 
posal ?  "  he  continued  aloud.  "  I  don't  like  to  take  up  a 
thing  like  this  without  careful  consideration.  But  if  my 
answer  is  « yes,'  you  may  be  sure  that  I  will  not  look 
back." 


42 THE    VOW 

"  I  am  quite  willing." 

"  But  I  must  say  at  once  that  I  can  accept  no  salary. 
Fortunately  I  have  an  income  of  a  few  pounds  a  week 
that  obviates  the  necessity.  I  am  glad  of  it,  for  I  shall 
feel  more  comfortable  —  if  I  accept  your  offer." 

"  You  must  please  yourself.  So  long  as  you  say  '  yes ' 
I  shall  not  grumble.  Now  let  us  leave  the  subject  until 
you  have  made  up  your  mind.  You  will  find  me  at  the 
office  to-morrow  morning.  No  —  don't  light  that  cigar 
again.  Let  me  give  you  another  one." 

Drake  took  it,  and  was  about  to  strike  a  match  when 
the  door  opened,  and  a  girl  rushed  in. 

"John,  I  have  just  left  Mildred.  Let  me  congratulate 
you  both.  The  baby  is  a  dear,"  she  said  brightly. 

"  Ethel,  may  I  introduce  to  you  Mr.  Drake,  a  clergy- 
man who  I  hope  will  be  our  domestic  chaplain.  Mr. 
Drake,  this  is  my  sister-in-law,  Lady  Ethel  Blythe," 
Gaunt  said  with  a  grim  smile. 


CHAPTER  VI 

LADY  ETHEL  BLYTHE  was  some  five  years 
younger    than    her    sister,    and    had    not  yet 
formally  entered  society.     It  was  only  recently 
that  she  had  returned  from  France  where  she  had  re- 
ceived her  education,  and  had  since  been  staying  with 
relations  in  the  country,  until  she  had  received  news  of 
the  birth  of  her  sister's  child.     That  morning  she  had 
arrived  in  Park  Lane,  and  it  was  the  first  time  that  she 
had  met  John  Gaunt  since  the  wedding. 

"  I  did  not  know  there  was  any  one  with  you  —  and 
may  I  ask  why  you  are  about  to  start  a  chaplain  ?  I 
was  not  aware  that  you  were  religiously  inclined,  John," 
she  said  mischievously.  Her  manner  was  quite  self-pos- 
sessed and  she  bestowed  a  curious  look  on  Edward 
Drake. 

"  Mr.  Gaunt  is  speaking  of  what  is  not  yet  settled," 
the  latter  said  with  an  air  of  embarrassment,  which  was 
not  lost  to  Lady  Ethel's  keen  eyes. 

"  If  I  have  interrupted  you,  I  will  go.  That  wretched 
nurse  has  forbidden  me  the  room.  She  says  that  I  ex- 
cite the  patient  too  much." 

She  moved  towards  the  door  but  Gaunt  called  her 
back. 

"  We  have  quite  finished  our  little  talk,  and  will  be 
glad  if  you  will  give  us  some  tea,"  he  said  politely. 

Drake  glanced  hastily  at  his  watch  and  uttered  an  ex- 
clamation. 

43 


44  THE    VOW 


"  I  had  no  idea  it  was  so  late.  It  is  after  four  o'clock," 
he  cried  in  surprise. 

"  You  must  manage  to  spare  a  few  more  minutes.  I 
will  ring  for  tea  at  once,"  Lady  Ethel  said  peremptorily. 

Drake  followed  her  with  his  eyes,  and  her  beauty  was 
a  revelation  to  him. 

A  woman  always  knows  when  she  has  aroused  a  man's 
interest,  and  when  Lady  Ethel  returned  there  was  a  mis- 
chievous smile  on  her  face.  It  must  be  remembered  that 
she  was  little  more  than  a  girl,  and  had  not  fully  realized 
the  power  that  beauty  gives  to  a  woman,  but  she  saw 
that  this  good-looking  clergyman  liked  her. 

"  Will  your  chaplaincy  necessitate  your  residence  with 
us  ?  "  she  asked  gravely. 

So  Lady  Ethel  lived  with  the  Gaunts,  and  Drake  made 
a  mental  note  of  the  fact. 

"  We  have  not  yet  discussed  that,"  he  replied  with 
equal  gravity. 

"  I  should  much  prefer  that  it  should  be  so,"  Gaunt 
broke  in  decidedly.  "  It  would  give  me  a  much  safer 
feeling,  to  have  my  confessor  at  hand." 

"  John,  have  you  become  a  Roman  Catholic?  How 
interesting ! "  Lady  Ethel  cried. 

"  I  belong  to  the  Church  of  England,"  Drake  answered 
shortly,  and  he  gave  Gaunt  a  warning  glance. 

There  ensued  a  light  conversation  between  Lady 
Ethel  and  Drake  to  which  Gaunt  listened  and  from 
which  he  obtained  a  little  amusement. 

"  Decidedly  my  sister-in-law  is  a  flirt,  and  the  parson 
will  be  an  easy  victim.  Well,  it's  his  lookout,  and  he 
must  take  care  of  himself,"  was  his  thought. 

At  last  Drake  took  his  leave,  and  it  was  arranged  that 


THE    VOW  45 


he  should  call  at  Gaunt's  office  in  the  morning.  Lady 
Ethel  was  very  gracious  as  she  bade  him  good-bye,  and 
when  the  door  had  closed  she  turned  to  her  brother-in- 
law  with  an  air  of  innocent  triumph. 

"  1  hope  I  made  a  good  impression  on  your  friend.  I 
tried  my  best,"  she  said  cheerfully. 

"  You  must  have  mercy,  Ethel.  I  forbid  you  to  make 
him  fall  in  love  with  you." 

"  He  seems  very  nice  for  a  parson,  and  he's  quite 
good-looking.  I  like  him,"  she  said  emphatically. 

Gaunt  smiled  indulgently  as  she  chattered  away,  but 
he  was  going  over  in  his  mind  the  recent  interview  with 
Drake.  There  could  be  no  doubt  of  the  gravity  of  the 
task  he  had  undertaken,  and  he  contemplated  it  with 
disquietude,  but  not  for  a  moment  did  he  weaken  in  his 
resolve. 

"  You  are  not  listening  to  me,  and  I  shall  leave  you," 
Ethel  cried  with  simulated  anger. 

"  I  am  going  up  to  see  Mildred  —  that  is,  if  she's 
awake.  You  had  better  not  go  near  her  again.  You 
talk  too  much,  child,"  he  said  drily. 

When  Gaunt  reached  the  hall,  Sir  Felix  Hellier  was 
descending  the  stairs,  and  so  he  waited  for  him. 

"  How  is  my  wife  ?  "  he  asked  anxiously. 

"  She  is  much  better,  and  you  may  be  quite  easy  in 
your  mind.  It  is  a  wonderful  recovery,"  Sir  Felix  an- 
swered with  some  complacency. 

"  Would  you  mind  coming  into  this  room  for  a  mo- 
ment ?  I  want  to  ask  you  a  question." 

Gaunt  led  the  way  and  there  were  obvious  signs  of 
nervousness  when  he  faced  the  doctor. 

"  You  remember  when  you  left  my  wife  yesterday,  I 


46 THE    VOW 

mean  on  the  first  occasion,  when  you  told  me  that  you 
had  done  all  you  could,  and  that  the  issue  lay  in  God's 
hands  ?  " 

"  Yes,"  Sir  Felix  said  impatiently. 

"I  want  you  to  tell  me  frankly  —  when  you  left,  did 
you  think  that  she  was  dying  ?  "  Gaunt  asked  eagerly. 

"  I  thought  that  the  case  was  hopeless.  Of  course,  the 
best  of  us  are  liable  to  make  mistakes,  but  I  am  of  opinion 
that  it  is  something  in  the  nature  of  a  miracle  that  Lady 
Mildred  is  alive,"  Sir  Felix  answered  gravely. 

"  Do  doctors  often  make  such  mistakes  ?  " 

Sir  Felix  flushed  at  the  question,  but  he  quickly  saw 
that  Gaunt  had  no  intention  of  being  impertinent. 

"  I  tell  you  frankly  that  in  my  opinion  your  wife  ought 
to  be  dead.  Upon  my  soul,  I  don't  understand  why  she 
is  alive,"  Sir  Felix  answered  irritably,  and  it  would  al- 
most appear  from  his  manner  that  Lady  Mildred  had 
committed  an  offense  in  living. 

"  Then  your  science  is  at  fault,"  Gaunt  said  quietly. 

"  In  this  case  —  yes." 

0  Thank  you,  Sir  Felix.  One  thing  more.  I  owe  you 
an  apology  for  the  unceremonious  way  in  which  I  fetched 
you  here  last  night." 

"  Pray  don't  refer  to  it.  Under  the  circumstances,  your 
conduct  was  quite  excusable.  Good-bye  for  the  present. 
I  shall  look  in  again  to-night,"  Sir  Felix  said,  a  trifle 
pompously. 

Gaunt  was  deeply  moved  by  the  doctor's  answers.  It 
was  quite  evident  that  Sir  Felix  could  not  understand 
Lady  Mildred's  recovery,  and  from  that  moment  John 
Gaunt  became  convinced  that  he  owed  his  wife's  life  to 
the  prayer  that  he  had  uttered.  Residence  amongst  the 


THE    VOW  47 

natives  of  West  Africa  does  not  make  one  less  supersti- 
tious, and  when  among  them  he  had  seen  strange  things 
that  apparently  could  not  be  explained  by  the  ordinary 
rules  of  life. 

So  now  it  was  upon  him  to  carry  out  his  side  of  the 
bargain.  His  face  was  very  grave  when  he  entered  his 
wife's  room.  Lady  Mildred  was  awake,  and  her  face 
brightened  when  she  saw  him. 

"  Isn't  he  simply  sweet  ? "  she  whispered,  and  drew 
aside  the  clothes  so  that  he  should  obtain  a  better  view  of 
the  baby. 

In  answer  Gaunt  kissed  her  gently  on  the  forehead, 
for  he  could  not  trust  himself  to  speak,  and  he  moved 
away.  There  had  been  such  a  terrible  fear  that  his  wife 
would  go  back  to  her  old  manner,  and  he  was  relieved  to 
find  that  there  was  a  tender  love  in  her  eyes  and  she 
seemed  unfeignedly  glad  to  see  him. 

"  I  thought  that  I  had  lost  you,"  he  blurted  out  sud- 
denly. 

"  Poor  John.  You  must  have  had  a  terrible  time. 
But  it's  all  right  now,  and  I  intend  to  get  well  as  soon  as 
possible."  She  paused  a  while.  "  I  don't  think  I  have 
been  quite  fair  to  you  in  the  past,  dear.  But  never  mind, 
I  will  make  up  for  it  in  the  future,"  she  whispered. 

"  Do  you  mean ?  " 

He  did  not  complete  the  question,  but  she  understood, 
and  a  vivid  flush  came  to  her  cheeks. 

"  I  think  I  have  been  very  selfish,  dear.  This  little 
one  has  already  opened  my  eyes  to  many  things.  Shall 
we  go  for  a  long  cruise  in  the  yacht  and " 

"  Yes,  I  will  give  orders  at  once  and  we'll  start  as  soon 
as  you  are  strong  enough,"  he  broke  in  impetuously. 


48  THE    VOW 

"  Yes.  It  will  be  delightful.  Just  you  and  I  and  the 
baby." 

Suddenly  she  began  to  laugh  very  quietly,  and  the 
nurse  came  hurrying  up. 

"  You  must  not  excite  her  ladyship.  I  think  you  had 
better  go,"  she  said  severely  to  Gaunt. 

"  No,  it's  all  right,  nurse.  I  will  be  good,"  Lady  Mildred 
cried.  "  But  I  was  thinking  of  my  dream.  Of  you  as  an 
angel,  John.  It  was  too  funny  for  words.  You  don't 
seem  to  see  the  joke  ?  " 

John's  face  had  grown  whiter  for  he  was  once  more 
living  through  the  terrible  hours  of  yesterday.  This 
strange  dream  of  his  wife's  went  a  long  way  to  confirm 
him  in  the  belief  that  he  owed  her  life  to  God's  interven- 
tion. Therefore  he  would  fulfill  his  vow  completely  and 
honestly  and  at  any  cost  to  himself. 

But  would  his  wife  help  him  in  his  endeavor  ?  It  was 
too  absurd  for  consideration,  for  if  he  were  to  tell  her  of 
his  determination  she  would  laugh  the  idea  to  scorn. 
Lady  Mildred's  guiding  motive  in  life  was  her  own  en- 
joyment, and  nothing  else. 

True,  she  did  go  to  church,  but  her  visits  were  very 
rare,  and  then  only  for  the  sake  of  appearances.  No, 
Gaunt  could  expect  no  sympathy  from  that  quarter  —  in 
fact  he  would  probably  meet  with  opposition. 

It  was  evident  that  his  future  actions  would  be  likely 
to  excite  comment  among  both  his  friends  and  enemies. 
With  the  latter  it  would  be  easy  to  deal,  but  friends 
have  an  unfortunate  knack  of  claiming  explanations  as  a 
right. 

"  You  are  very  serious,  John,"  said  Lady  Mildred,  and 
Gaunt  was  recalled  to  the  present. 


THE    VOW  49 

It  was  sufficient  for  the  moment  to  know  that  his  wife 
regarded  him  very  differently. 

"  Mildred,  I  think  you  are  beginning  to  care  for  me," 
he  said  in  a  low  voice. 

In  answer  her  hand  moved  towards  him  and  lay  there ; 
but  she  did  not  speak. 


CHAPTER  VII 

EDWARD  DRAKE  walked  the  whole  way  back 
from  Park  Lane  to  Whitechapel.  He  was  one  of 
the  many  men  whose  brains  work  more  quickly 
when  the  limbs  are  in  motion,  and  he  had  much  to  oc- 
cupy his  thoughts.  At  first  sight  it  seemed  ludicrous  to 
imagine  that  Gaunt  would  fulfill  a  resolution  made  under 
such  circumstances.  The  issue  was  stupendous,  and 
would  change  his  life  in  every  detail  if  it  were  carried  out 
conscientiously.  But  although  he  had  known  Gaunt  for 
a  short  time,  he  had  come  to  the  conclusion  that  Gaunt 
was  a  man  of  no  ordinary  character.  Most  men  would 
have  calmly  forgotten  their  promise,  and  it  was  to  his 
credit  that  he  had  remembered  it  seriously.  In  addi- 
tion, Gaunt  had  sent  for  him,  and  had  made  a  proposal  in 
a  quiet  businesslike  manner.  Therefore  to  all  appear- 
ances he  had  decided  to  keep  his  side  of  the  bargain. 

Before  he  had  reached  home  Drake  had  decided  that 
Gaunt's  offer  was  honestly  meant,  and  that  it  was  not 
merely  a  salve  to  his  conscience,  to  be  thrown  aside  at 
the  first  opportunity. 

There  were  people  waiting  in  his  house,  and  it  was 
typical  of  the  man  that  he  at  once  started  work,  and  for 
the  time,  dismissed  from  his  mind  the  subject  that  had 
been  engrossing  him.  It  was  late  before  he  had  finished, 
and  after  supper  he  settled  himself  comfortably  before 
the  fire,  for  the  purpose  of  thoroughly  thrashing  out  the 
problem. 

So 


THE    VOW  51 


Curiously  enough  he  imagined  that  he  could  see  in 
the  brightly  burning  coals  a  face,  and  it  was  not  that  of 
Gaunt,  but  of  Lady  Ethel.  A  smile  twitched  at  his 
mouth  for  it  was  pleasant  to  remember  so  radiant  a 
young  beauty.  Of  women  Drake  knew  nothing,  for  as 
a  youth  he  had  been  too  shy  to  enjoy  their  company ; 
and  the  shyness  had  only  vanished  after  he  had  become 
acquainted  with  so  many  real  tragedies  of  life.  One 
who  lives  habitually  in  the  midst  of  intense  human 
suffering  must  naturally  lose  all  consciousness  of  self. 

He  found  it  quite  an  effort  to  banish  the  memory  of 
her  from  his  mind,  and  to  concentrate  his  thoughts  upon 
the  problem  before  him. 

It  was  true  that  Edward  Drake  was  a  Priest  in  Holy 
Orders,  but  above  all  he  was  a  Christian  and  to  him 
creeds  were  of  little  value.  It  was  his  honest  endeavor 
to  live  as  he  believed  Christ  would  have  him  live. 

His  ambition  was  to  do  the  greatest  amount  of  good 
to  the  greatest  number  of  people  in  the  time  that  was  at 
his  disposal.  His  work  in  the  East  End  was  of  benefit  to 
many,  but  he  believed  that  there  were  others  who  could 
carry  it  on  as  efficiently  as  himself.  Therefore  he  was 
in  no  way  tied  to  it.  Having  settled  this  to  his  own 
satisfaction,  the  next  question  concerned  the  seriousness 
of  the  intentions  of  John  Gaunt.  If  the  millionaire 
meant  what  he  had  said  at  their  interview,  there  could 
be  no  doubt  that  it  was  his  duty  to  help  him  to  carry 
out  his  intentions  to  the  best  of  his  ability. 

It  was  not  only  John  Gaunt's  honor  to  be  considered, 
but  the  power  and  influence  of  his  millions.  With  such 
wealth  behind  him  there  was  no  limit  to  the  benefits 
which  might  be  conferred  on  the  poor  and  suffering. 


52  THE    VOW 


Drake's  face  grew  very  grave  when  he  remembered  the 
one  subject  that  was  wont  to  fire  him  with  the  fiercest 
indignation  —  the  Congo  Free  State  —  and  the  abomi- 
nable atrocities  that  were  being  committed  there. 

John  Gaunt's  wealth  was  founded  on  the  tortured 
labor  of  the  natives  of  West  Africa,  and  John  Gaunt  had 
vowed  to  right  the  wrongs  that  he  had  committed. 

Drake  jumped  up  and  began  to  pace  restlessly  to  and 
fro. 

"  I  will  be  this  man's  servant.  I  will  endeavor  to 
direct  him  in  the  way  he  should  go,"  he  said,  and  his 
voice  was  filled  with  a  grim  resolve. 

He  knelt  beside  the  chair  and  prayed  for  guidance, 
and  when  he  rose  to  his  feet  there  was  a  glad  light  in  his 
eyes.  It  was  the  face  of  a  born  fighter  —  a  face  ablaze 
with  enthusiasm  for  a  good  cause.  And  now  his  only 
fear  was  that  John  Gaunt  would  not  have  the  strength  to 
fulfill  his  vow.  But  his  fears  grew  less  when  he  remem- 
bered the  impression  that  the  millionaire  had  made  upon 
him. 

When  he  awakened  in  the  morning,  it  was  with  the 
feeling  that  something  good  had  happened,  and  he 
rushed  through  his  work  as  quickly  as  possible.  It  was 
twelve  o'clock  when  he  reached  Gaunt's  office,  and  as 
soon  as  he  arrived  he  was  conducted  into  the  private 
office.  Gaunt  rose  to  receive  him,  and  held  out  his 
hand. 

"  Have  you  decided?"  he  asked  quickly. 

"  Yes,  Mr.  Gaunt.  I  am  your  man.  But  first  I  would 
ask  you  one  question.  Have  you  thoroughly  weighed 
the  consequences  ?  Are  you  prepared  to  go  through 
with  it  at  any  cost  ?  "  Drake  asked  earnestly. 


THE    VOW  53 


"  I  intend  to  keep  my  promise,"  Gaunt  answered 
doggedly.  "  I  am  beginning  to  appreciate  that  the 
thing  is  even  bigger  than  I  had  imagined.  What  is  it, 
Foster  ? "  he  asked  irritably  of  his  secretary  who  had 
brought  to  him  a  slip  of  paper. 

"Ah  —  Mr.  Weiss.  Ask  him  in,"  he  said  when  he 
had  glanced  at  the  name. 

"  Will  you  see  him  while  this  gentleman  is  here  ? " 
Foster  asked  quickly. 

"  Yes,"  Gaunt  rejoined  curtly,  and  then  turned  to 
Drake. 

"  I  think  this  will  be  the  first  example  of  what  I  shall 
have  to  put  up  with.  Listen  to  what  we  say,  and  Weiss 
will  probably  make  things  clear  to  you.  I  had  better 
warn  you  that  personally  I  come  out  of  this  business 
rather  badly,"  he  wound  up  with  a  grim  smile. 

Weiss  entered,  and  his  face  bore  an  affable  smile. 

"  Well,  Mr.  Gaunt,  I  think  we've  done  pretty  fair  out 
of  that  deal.  What  price  did  you  get  ?  "  he  asked. 

"  It's  no  use  beating  about  the  bush,  Weiss,  but  I 
don't  think  you  are  going  to  get  one  penny  piece  out  of 
the  Amanti  profits.  It  all  depends  upon  this  gentle- 
man's decision  when  he  has  heard  the  facts,"  Gaunt  said 
pleasantly. 

Weiss  started  to  his  feet,  his  face  ablaze  with  indigna- 
tion and  fear. 

"  I  don't  know  anything  about  this  gentleman.  I 
know  I  want  a  check,  and  I'm  going  to  have  it,  unless 
you've  turned  thief,"  he  cried  furiously. 

"  Listen  to  me  and  I  will  explain,"  Gaunt  answered 
suavely,  and  he  exchanged  a  significant  look  with 
Drake. 


54  THE    VOW 

"  A  short  time  ago,"  Gaunt  continued  quietly,  "  Mr. 
Weiss  and  his  two  friends  came  to  me  and  suggested  a 
deal  in  Amantis.  At  the  outset  I  suspected  that  there 
was  something  wrong,  for  neither  of  those  gentlemen  is 
a  philanthropist,  and  if  all  had  been  straightforward, 
there  was  no  reason  to  ask  me  to  participate  in  their 
scheme.  As  a  matter  of  fact,  it  had  been  arranged  that 
a  forged  cable  should  be  sent  from  the  mines  announcing 
a  fresh  and  valuable  discovery  of  gold  —  and  we  were  to 
take  our  profits  on  the  rise  which  would  naturally  ensue. 
This  has  been  done,  and  I  reckon  that  about  twenty  odd 
thousand  pounds  have  been  cleared.  Do  I  make  myself 
quite  clear,  Drake  ?  " 

"  I  don't  see  how  our  business  concerns  this  gentle- 
man," Weiss  cried  truculently.  "  Give  me  the  check  and 
let  me  go." 

"  Have  I  made  a  fair  statement  of  the  case  ? "  asked 
Gaunt. 

Edward  Drake  was  watching  the  scene  with  keen  in- 
terest, and  he  was  wondering  what  Gaunt  would  decide 
to  do.  It  was  quite  clear  that  this  enormous  profit  had 
been  procured  by  fraud,  and  this  would  be  a  test  of  the 
strength  of  the  Vow. 

Weiss  was  beside  himself  with  rage  and  amazement  so 
that  for  a  while  he  was  incapable  of  speech,  but  soon  he 
grew  calmer  and  told  himself  reassuringly  that  this  was 
but  a  joke  that  was  being  played  upon  him. 

"  Look  here,  Gaunt ;  this  has  gone  far  enough.  You 
know  that  my  time  is  valuable  and  I  want  to  get  off. 
Just  calculate  our  share  and  let  me  have  a  check  like  a 
good  fellow,"  he  said  with  a  cheerfulness  that  he  was 
far  from  feeling. 


THE    VOW  55 

"  I  don't  intend  to  keep  the  profits,  neither  do  I  in- 
tend that  you  shall  touch  one  penny  piece  of  them.  Look 
in  to-morrow's  Times  and  you  will  see  an  announcement 
that  will  interest  you,"  Gaunt  said  pleasantly. 

Now  Weiss  realized  that  it  was  no  pleasantry  and 
his  voice  became  loud  and  there  was  menace  in  his 
eyes. 

"  Very  well,  Gaunt.  It's  no  use  discussing  it  further 
just  now,  but  I'll  just  say  that  if  I  don't  get  a  check  in 
the  course  of  a  week,  I'll  make  things  pretty  hot  for  you. 
It  seems  to  me  that  you  are  not  yourself  this  morning, 
and  it's  only  fair  to  give  you  a  little  time  for  considera- 
tion. I  can  be  a  dangerous  enemy  as  you'll  find  out. 
Good-day.  Come  along,"  he  said  to  his  friends,  and 
they  followed  him  obediently. 

Drake  drew  a  deep  breath  when  they  had  gone  but 
made  no  remark,  although  there  was  an  inquiring  ex- 
pression in  his  eyes  that  brought  a  smile  to  Gaunt's 
face.  The  latter  touched  the  bell,  and  Foster  entered, 
note-book  in  hand. 

"  Take  down  this  letter,"  he  said  sharply.  " '  To  the 
secretary  of  the  King's  Hospital  Fund —  I  have  pleasure 
in  enclosing  a  check  for  twenty  '-  —  let  me  see,  what  are 
the  exact  figures  ?  — '  twenty-nine  thousand,  three  hun- 
dred and  fifty  pounds  for  the  benefit  of  the  Fund.  This 
is  a  gift  from  Mr.  Julian  Weiss  and  two  friends,  and  I 
shall  esteem  it  a  favor  if  you  will  acknowledge  the  re- 
ceipt of  same  in  to-morrow's  issue  of  the  Times.  I  do 
not  wish  my  own  name  to  appear  in  the  matter.'  Have 
that  typed  at  once  and  send  it  off  by  hand.  How  will 
that  do  ?  "  Gaunt  asked  turning  to  Drake. 

"  It  seems  to  be  one  way  out  of  the  difficulty  —  but 


56 THE    VOW 

what  about  the  holders  of  the  shares  who  have  sold  on 
the  strength  of  the  forged  cable  ?  Surely  they  ought  to 
be  considered  ?  "  Drake  said  thoughtfully. 

"Ah — that  didn't  occur  to  me.  But  still,  I'll  send 
the  check  off.  I  promised  Weiss  something  interesting 
in  the  Times  to-morrow  and  he  shall  have  it.  As  to  the 
owners  of  the  shares,  I'll  instruct  the  brokers  to  offer 
them  back  at  the  price  they  sold  to  me,  but  I'm  afraid 
that  they  will  think  me  mad,"  Gaunt  said  ruefully. 

But  there  was  a  smile  on  his  face  when  he  rose. 

"I  am  rather  enjoying  this  experience  —  up  to  the 
present.  But  enough  of  business  for  to-day.  Come 
with  me  to  Park  Lane,  and  we'll  have  a  long  talk  after 
lunch.  I  want  your  advice  on  many  matters.  By  the 
bye,  I  hope  you  have  decided  to  reside  with  us  ?  "  Gaunt 
asked  abruptly. 

"  Yes  —  but  not  until  I  have  got  everything  into 
working  order  at  home." 

"  How  long  will  that  take  ?  " 

"  About  a  week,  but  for  some  time  to  come  I  must 
continue  to  visit  the  East  End,"  Drake  answered,  and 
then  suddenly  burst  into  a  fit  of  hearty  laughter. 

"  What  amuses  you  ?  "  Gaunt  asked  drily. 

"  Only  the  memory  of  Mr.  Weiss's  face.  I  am  afraid 
that  he  received  a  terrible  shock." 

"  Which  to-morrow's  announcement  will  intensify. 
By  the  bye,  what  do  you  think  of  me  now  ?  You  must 
realize  that  I  was  a  participator  in  a  fraud,  and  had  it 
not  been  for  this  Vow,  I  should  have  taken  my  share  of 
the  '  swag.'  Don't  try  to  mince  matters,  and  if  the  dis- 
covery has  made  any  difference  do  not  hesitate  to  say 
so,"  Gaunt  said  grimly. 


THE    VOW  57 


Drake  did  not  answer  for  a  moment  and  his  expres- 
sion was  very  grave. 

"  I  never  imagined  that  you  were  a  saint,  neither  had 
I  thought  you  capable  of  an  act  which  amounts  to  pure 
and  simple  theft.  You  see  I  am  speaking  frankly,  but 
still  I  think  you  are  serious  in  your  intention  to  perform 
your  vow ;  therefore  everything  of  the  kind  in  the  future 
becomes  impossible,"  he  said  in  a  low  voice. 

"  I  am  glad  that  you  look  at  it  in  that  way,  for 
there's  much  worse  in  store.  That  is  if  I  am  to  do  the 
thing  conscientiously.  To  begin  with  there's  the  Congo, 
and  I  intend  to  tell  you  the  truth  —  the  truth,"  Gaunt 
repeated  emphatically. 

Drake  shuddered  and  some  of  the  color  left  his  face. 


CHAPTER  VIII 

IT  was  the  first  time  that  Lady  Mildred  had  left  her 
room  since  the  birth  of  her  child  and  she  was  lying 
on  the  couch  which  had  been  drawn  close  to  the 
fire.     Her  sister,  Lady  Ethel,  was  standing  by  her  side 
and  regarding  her  with  an  amused  smile. 

"  I  don't  quite  understand  this  husband  of  yours,  for 
he  doesn't  live  up  to  his  reputation.  I  have  been  with 
you  for  a  fortnight  and  my  eyes  have  not  been  shut,  my 
dear.  I  always  understood  that  John  was  a  very  modern 
financier,  but  from  what  I  have  seen  he  might  be  in 
training  for  a  parson,"  Lady  Ethel  said  laughingly. 

"  John  is  not  an  easy  man  to  understand,  but  I  have 
never  noticed  any  tendency  towards  religion,"  Lady  Mil- 
dred answered. 

"  Don't  you  know  that  Mr.  Drake  —  a  clergyman 
from  the  East  End  —  takes  up  his  residence  here  to- 
day?" 

"  John  did  mention  that  some  one  was  coming  to  stay 
with  us,  but  surely  he  does  not  intend  that  the  parson 
should  be  a  fixture  ?  "  Lady  Mildred  said  with  a  frown. 

"  That's  what  I  gather,  and  I'm  quite  sure  that  there's 
some  mystery  about.  Your  worthy  husband  and  Mr. 
Drake  are  always  talking  together  in  the  library,  and 
when  I  make  an  appearance,  the  subject,  whatever  it 
is,  is  quickly  dropped." 

"  What  sort  of  a  man  is  this  Mr.  Drake  ?  "  Lady  Mil- 
dred asked  musingly. 

58 


THE    VOW  59 


"  Oh,  he's  all  right,  for  he  doesn't  thrust  religion  down 
your  throat.  In  fact,  I'm  always  forgetting  he's  in  the 
Church  and  I'm  afraid  that  at  times  he's  rather  shocked 
by  some  of  my  remarks.  But  I  like  him." 

There  was  a  knock  at  the  door  and  a  nurse  entered, 
carrying  in  her  arms  the  baby.  "  Let  me  have  him.  I'll 
be  very  careful,"  Lady  Ethel  cried  eagerly. 

With  great  gentleness  she  took  the  sleeping  child  and 
sat  down  on  the  couch  beside  her  sister,  while  the  nurse, 
at  a  nod  from  her  mistress,  left  the  room. 

The  young  girl,  radiantly  beautiful,  crooned  a  lullaby 
and  she  did  not  hear  the  door  open  to  admit  John  Gaunt 
and  Edward  Drake. 

"  May  we  come  in,  Mildred  ?  "  the  former  asked  quietly, 
and  his  wife  smiled  in  reply.  "  This  is  Mr.  Drake," 
Gaunt  continued.  "  I  want  you  to  like  him." 

She  looked  up  and  her  eyes  quickly  scrutinized  this 
new  friend  of  her  husband,  and  the  examination  appar- 
ently satisfied  her,  for  she  held  out  her  hand  and  spoke 
graciously. 

"  I  am  glad  to  know  you,  Mr.  Drake.  My  sister  was 
just  speaking  of  you." 

Drake  longed  to  know  what  Lady  Ethel  had  said,  and 
he  was  aware  that  there  was  mischief  in  the  latter's  eyes, 
as  he  murmured  his  thanks  to  Lady  Mildred  for  her 
welcome. 

"  You  must  not  stay  up  too  long,  dear,"  Gaunt  said 
anxiously,  and  Lady  Mildred  flushed  slightly  at  the  con- 
cern in  his  voice. 

During  these  last  few  days  a  feeling  of  embarrassment 
had  sprung  up  between  husband  and  wife,  and  there 
had  been  no  intimate  talk  between  them.  Lady  Mildred 


60  THE    VOW 


was  conscious  of  a  shyness  in  Gaunt's  presence  that 
she  could  not  understand  while  he  was  determined  to 
take  no  risks,  but  to  be  patient  until  he  was  absolutely 
certain  of  the  state  of  her  feelings  towards  him. 

"  Have  you  given  orders  to  get  the  yacht  ready  ? " 
Lady  Mildred  asked  suddenly. 

"  Not  yet,  for  I  find  that  I  sha'n't  be  able  to  leave 
England  for  a  month  or  two,"  he  answered  hurriedly. 

"  Of  course,  if  your  business  is  so  pressing,  I  should 
not  think  of  asking  you  to  make  any  sacrifice,"  she  an- 
swered, but  he  could  see  that  she  was  hurt  by  his  reply. 

But  it  was  one  of  the  disabilities  of  the  fulfillment  of  his 
vow,  that  he  could  not  leave  England  until  many  things 
had  been  done,  and  when  he  spoke  his  tone  was  apolo- 
getic. 

"  My  hands  are  tied  for  a  while.  I  have  no  choice, 
Mildred,  or  I  would  not  hesitate  to  go  at  once.  If  you 
wish,  the  yacht  shall  be  got  ready  and  you  can  take  your 
sister  with  you  for  company  until  I  can  join  you." 

"  You  are  very  good,  but  I  don't  think  that  I  am  very 
keen  on  going.  After  all  it  would  have  been  rather  dull 
—  just  you  and  I,"  she  answered  coldly. 

Lady  Ethel  took  the  baby  back  to  the  nurse  and  a  few 
moments  later  Drake  excused  himself  with  the  plea  that 
he  would  finish  his  unpacking. 

"  Why  have  you  brought  that  man  to  live  with  us  ?  " 
Lady  Mildred  asked  when  she  was  alone  with  her  hus- 
band. 

"  I  like  him,"  Gaunt  answered  emphatically. 

"  Yes.     But  that  is  not  an  answer  to  my  question." 

"  Have  you  any  objection  ?  If  so,  I  can  very  quickly 
alter  the  arrangement." 


THE    VOW  61 

"  No.  I  don't  wish  that.  You  have  the  right  to  ask 
any  friend  you  wish  to  your  house." 

"  If  you  dislike  the  idea,  I  will " 

«  No  —  no.  You  misunderstand  me,"  she  interrupted 
him  hastily.  "  I  was  only  thinking  that  it  was  a  little 
strange  that  you  should  make  a  clergyman  a  member  of 
our  family.  I  have  never  noticed  that  you  were  relig- 
iously inclined,"  she  wound  up  drily. 

"  Mildred,  dear,  will  you  be  patient  with  me  ?  It  is 
my  intention  to  make  a  great  change  in  my  life,  and  I 
want  your  help  and  sympathy." 

A  look  of  surprise  swept  over  her  face. 

"  Surely  you  haven't  lost  all  your  money,  or  anything 
dreadful  of  that  kind  ?  "  she  cried. 

"  No.  But  even  if  I  had,  you  would  be  quite  safe. 
Your  settlement  was  a  quarter  of  a  million,  and  that  can 
never  be  touched,"  he  answered  grimly. 

"  May  I  ask  the  reason  of  the  change  you  propose  ?  " 

"  First  of  all,  I  shall  give  up  business  in  the  City.  As 
soon  as  possible  I  shall  retire  from  all  the  companies  in 
which  I  am  interested,  and  shall  invest  my  capital  in  gilt 
edged  securities  that  are  easily  realized.  But  a  great 
deal  of  this  capital  I  intend  to  use,  and  it  is  probable  that 
in  a  few  months'  time  I  shall  be  only  a  moderately 
wealthy  man." 

Lady  Mildred  had  listened  with  eager  attention,  and 
was  evidently  very  puzzled  by  the  announcement. 

"  It  is  certain  that  you  can  do  as  you  like  with  your 
money.  As  you  say,  I  and  the  child  are  provided  for  by 
the  settlement,"  she  remarked  frigidly. 

Gaunt  was  silent  and  there  was  a  hesitating  look  in  his 
eyes  for  he  was  wondering  if  it  were  possible  to  tell  his 


62  THE    VOW 

wife  of  the  vow  that  he  had  made ;  but  it  was  certain  that 
she  would  not  understand,  and  so  the  idea  was  quickly 
abandoned. 

"  Mildred,  I  had  hoped  that  we  were  going  to  be  better 
friends,"  he  said  impulsively. 

"  Is  that  possible,  John  ?  I  think  we  are  a  model 
couple  for  I  cannot  remember  that  we  have  ever  quar- 
relled," she  answered  nervously. 

"  I  wish  that  you  cared  for  me  sufficiently  —  to 
quarrel.  I  sometimes  wonder  if  you  suspect  how  much 
I  love  you.  A  few  days  ago  —  when  you  were  so 
ill  —  I  imagined  that,  that  you  loved  me  even  as  I  love 
you." 

"  My  dear,  I  am  afraid  that  you  are  growing  senti- 
mental. Really,  John,  you  are  full  of  surprises.  Of 
course  I  love  you." 

Their  eyes  met,  and  his  were  filled  with  so  great  a 
passion  that  she  grew  afraid  and  rose  quickly. 

"  I  am  very  tired,  and  the  doctor  said  that  I  must  not 
overdo  it.  I  think  I  will  retire,"  she  said  hastily. 

Gaunt  proffered  his  arm  and  together  they  walked  in 
silence  to  her  room,  at  the  door  of  which  she  dismissed 
him  with  a  smile.  He  went  to  the  library,  and  sat  down 
to  think  over  what  had  taken  place.  It  was  certain  that 
Lady  Mildred  had  been  hurt  by  his  refusal  to  set  off  on 
the  yacht  at  once,  and  he  cursed  the  necessity  of  refusal, 
but  there  was  no  alternative  if  he  was  to  keep  faith. 

These  last  few  days  had  revealed  to  him  some  of  the 
difficulties  that  lay  before  him,  and  for  the  moment  he 
was  dismayed,  but  it  was  typical  of  the  man  that  there 
was  not  even  a  temptation  to  turn  aside  from  the  course 
that  he  had  mapped  out. 


THE    VOW  63 

His  reverie  was  interrupted  by  the  entrance  of  Drake 
and  Lady  Ethel,  both  of  whom  were  in  the  best  of  spirits, 
for  they  were  chatting  together  gaily  and  it  seemed  to 
Gaunt  that  the  man  whom  he  now  called  his  father  con- 
fessor was  enjoying  himself  thoroughly. 

"  Mr.  Drake,  I  will  play  you  a  hundred  up,"  said  Lady 
Ethel. 

"  I  can't  play  billiards,"  Drake  replied  ruefully. 

"  Then  it's  time  you  learned  and  I  will  teach  you." 

"  I  shall  be  delighted,"  he  answered. 

Gaunt  looked  after  him,  and  then  called  out. 

"  Drake,  I  want  to  have  a  long  chat  after  dinner,  so 
please  don't  make  any  promise  to  amuse  this  young 
lady,"  he  said  drily. 

A  slight  flush  came  to  Drake's  face  as  he  answered 
quietly. 

"  I  shall  be  at  your  service,  Mr.  Gaunt." 

And  Lady  Ethel  threw  him  a  glance  that  was  full  of 
mischief. 


CHAPTER   IX 

THE  footman  brought  the  coffee  which  he  placed 
on  a  table  between  the  chairs  on  which  Gaunt 
and  Drake  were  seated  and  then  withdrew 
silently.  Neither  of  them  spoke  but  their  faces  bore  an 
expression  of  great  gravity,  for  they  realized  that  they 
were  about  to  discuss  a  question  of  vast  importance,  and 
that  this  discussion  was  likely  to  be  a  momentous  one. 

"  I  suppose  it  is  the  Congo  ?  "  Drake  at  last  ventured 
to  say. 

"Yes  —  compared  with  that,  all  my  other  sins  are 
light.  To  fulfill  my  promise  I  must  try  to  remedy  the 
state  of  affairs  that  I  helped  to  bring  into  existence," 
Gaunt  said  quietly. 

"  I  know  a  good  deal  of  its  history,  but  I  wish  that  you 
would  tell  me  something  from  the  inside.  I  want  to  be 
able  to  understand  from  your  point  of  view,"  Drake  an- 
swered. 

"  It's  a  gruesome  subject,  but  I  will  do  as  you  ask.  It 
is  only  within  the  last  few  years  that  Europe  has  begun 
to  grasp  a  little  of  the  truth  —  of  the  infamies,  of  the 
murderings  and  torturings  that  have  been  committed  in 
the  name  of  civilization.  I  must  go  back  to  the  com- 
mencement, and  I  will  admit  that  when  the  late  King  of 
the  Belgians  entered  into  the  agreement  with  Stanley  to 
represent  him  in  making  treaties  with  the  natives,  he  had 
no  intention  of  exploiting  the  country  in  the  way  he  did. 

64 


THE    VOW  65 


King  Leopold  gained  the  consent  of  Europe  and  the 
United  States  to  forming  the  Congo  Free  State  with  the 
plea  that  he  wished  to  develop  the  country  for  the  good 
of  its  inhabitants.  In  fact  he  termed  himself  a  philan- 
thropist and  promised  that  the  natives  should  be  his  first 
consideration.  And  so  in  1884  the  Congo  Free  State 
was  formed  under  the  benign  auspices  of  the  Great 
Powers  of  the  world  —  England  and  America  being  es- 
pecially interested.  For  some  years  —  until  1 89 1  —  these 
promises  were  more  or  less  faithfully  carried  out,  and  the 
country  was  developed,  the  natives  being  paid  for  the 
work  they  did.  But  the  Belgians  are  not  born  colonizers, 
and  the  financial  position  became  desperate.  King  Leo- 
pold had  sunk  fifty  thousand  pounds  of  his  own  money, 
and  in  those  days  he  was  not  a  rich  man.  I  suppose  it  is 
unnecessary  for  me  to  refer  to  the  late  King's  private  life, 
to  his  licentiousness,  to  his  extravagance,  to  his " 

"  Quite  so,"  Drake  broke  in  hurriedly.  "  De  mortuis 
nil " 

"  That  maxim  may  apply  in  ordinary  cases,  but  to  one 
with  the  crimes  that  lay  on  the  soul  of  King  Leo- 
pold  " 

Gaunt  broke  off  with  a  shrug  of  the  shoulders,  and 
lapsed  into  silence.  His  eyes  were  moody  and  Drake 
thought  he  could  detect  something  of  shame  in  their  ex- 
pression. 

"  An  Englishman  —  the  late  Colonel  North  —  invested 
a  large  sum  in  one  of  the  companies  formed  to  exploit 
the  rubber  trade  and  that  was  my  first  connection  with 
the  Congo.  I  went  out  there  determined  to  amass 
wealth,  and  I  arrived  just  about  the  time  that  King  Leo- 
pold was  beginning  to  discover  that  he  owned  a  little 


66 THE    VOW 

gold  mine.  Hitherto  the  natives  had  been  paid  for  the 
rubber  which  they  collected,  but  it  occurred  to  his  Maj- 
esty that  such  a  payment  was  unnecessary.  Accord- 
ingly he  appropriated  the  land,  the  produce  of  the  soil, 
and  the  labor  of  the  people —  in  spite  of  the  promises  to 
the  great  powers  of  Europe.  It  was  but  natural  that  the 
natives  would  not  submit  to  such  robbery  without  a 
struggle,  and  so  the  Congo  raised  a  vast  army  of  natives 
to  carry  out  this  policy." 

Drake  was  deeply  interested,  and  his  eyes  were  fixed 
eagerly  on  Gaunt. 

"  I  will  only  tell  you  what  I  saw  with  my  own  eyes," 
the  latter  continued.  "  I  was  sent  to  the  Mongalla  dis- 
trict. I  arrived  at  the  house  of  the  chief  of  the  post  and 
I  noticed  a  little  crowd  gathered  in  front  of  it.  A 
woman  was  strung  up  to  a  post,  and  a  huge  native  was 
flogging  her  with  a  weapon  they  called  the  chicotte  —  a 
whip  of  rhinoceros  hide  that  cuts  deeply  into  the  flesh. 
A  white  man  was  counting  monotonously  and  he  had 
reached  the  number  one  hundred  and  ninety.  He 
stopped  when  he  saw  me,  but  the  native  continued  to 
strike.  'What  is  the  matter?'  I  cried.  The  officer 
looked  at  me  in  surprise.  '  She  is  the  wife  of  a  chief 
who  won't  bring  in  his  rubber,'  he  replied.  I  looked  at 
the  woman,  and  she  was  dead." 

Drake  shuddered,  and  his  face  had  grown  very  white. 

"  Didn't  you  interfere  ?  "  he  asked  hoarsely. 

"  What  could  I  do  ?  I  was  out  there  to  make  money, 
and  use  soon  accustomed  me  to  such  sights.  I  won't  go 
into  details,  but  will  merely  say  that  human  life  and  suf- 
fering were  held  as  naught.  The  orders  were  that  so 
much  rubber  must  be  sent  down  the  river,  and  the  only 


THE    VOW  67 

way  to  get  the  natives  to  collect  it  was  by  the  fear  of 
death  and  torture." 

"  Had  you  a  direct  hand  in  this  business  ? "  Drake 
asked  in  a  low  voice. 

«  No  —  but  I  profited  by  the  method  in  which  the 
rubber  was  obtained.  I  don't  want  to  harrow  your  feel- 
ings, but  I  tell  you  that  every  pound  of  rubber  that  has 
come  from  the  Congo  has  been  and  is  being  produced 
by  the  wholesale  murdering  and  torturing  of  the  natives," 
Gaunt  said  solemnly. 

"  You  use  the  present  tense.  Surely  now  that  the 
Congo  has  been  taken  over  by  Belgium,  things  are  bet- 
ter?" 

"  Not  one  whit  —  and  they  never  will  be  better  so 
long  as  a  Belgian  remains  in  power." 

"  But  the  new  King.     He  is  of  good  repute,  and " 

"  The  new  King  will  not  have  the  slightest  power  to 
alter  the  conditions.  Years  of  rapine  and  murder  have 
reduced  the  Congo  to  such  a  state  that  the  present 
methods  must  continue.  The  alternative  is  bankruptcy," 
Gaunt  answered. 

There  was  horror  on  Drake's  face,  and  his  lips  were 
pressed  into  a  straight  line. 

"  When  the  Belgian  government  took  over  the 
Congo,"  Gaunt  continued,  "  they  gave  a  pledge  that  the 
condition  of  the  natives  should  be  improved  immediately. 
I  have  means  of  obtaining  information  of  what  is  really 
taking  place,  and  I  saw  that  they  have  no  intention  of  re- 
linquishing their  methods  of  obtaining  rubber  by  murder 
and  torture.  But  they  have  promised  to  open  the  Congo 
to  the  trade  of  the  world  in  three  stages.  That  is,  they 
have  divided  the  country  into  three  portions.  The  first 


68 THE    VOW 

is  to  be  opened  out  in  a  few  months,  but  I  may  say  that 
that  portion  is  one  that  has  already  been  devastated  by 
murder  and  the  land  has  been  depleted  of  its  one  valu- 
able product  —  namely,  rubber.  A  year  later  a  second 
portion  is  to  be  thrown  open  —  by  that  time  it  will  be  in 
the  same  state  as  the  first." 

"  It  is  dastardly,"  Drake  broke  in  angrily. 

"  No  date  has  been  given  as  to  the  opening  out  of  the 
third  portion  —  and  for  a  good  reason  —  the  country  is 
practically  untouched,  and  they  propose  first  to  exhaust 
it  by  their  usual  methods.  When  the  country  has  been 
drained  dry  —  when  the  Belgians  have  earned  their  mil- 
lions, then,  and  not  till  then,  will  they  admit  the  for- 
eigner." 

"  Do  you  mean  to  say  seriously  that  now  —  at  this 
moment,  the  Belgians  are  collecting  rubber  in  the  same 
way  as  they  did  in  the  past  ?  "  Drake  asked  in  a  whisper. 

Gaunt  nodded  his  head. 

"  Yes.  They  think  it  is  a  simple  matter  to  fool 
Europe  as  they  have  done  in  the  past.  There  are  com- 
panies with  a  capital  of  a  few  thousands  that  pay  an  an- 
nual dividend  of  a  quarter  of  a  million  pounds.  You  can 
readily  understand  how  it  is  done.  Their  labor  costs  them 
nothing,  and  every  native  has  to  work  six  days  out  of 
the  seven  to  bring  in  his  allotted  weight  of  rubber.  If  he 
fails  he  is  flogged  to  death  and  his  family  is  imprisoned. 
Thousands  of  women  have  been  flogged  and  starved,  be- 
cause their  men  have  not  been  able  to  bring  in  the  re- 
quired quantity  of  rubber." 

"  And  this  is  the  twentieth  century  —  it  seems  incred- 
ible ! " 

"  But  the  state  of  things  has  been  proved  by  innumer- 


THE    VOW  69 


able  trustworthy  witnesses.  It  is  strange  to  me  that  the 
British  people  have  not  been  fired  by  the  hearing  of  such 
atrocities.  I  suppose  the  Congo  is  too  remote  a  coun- 
try," Gaunt  said  reflectively. 

Drake  had  risen  and  began  to  pace  rapidly  to  and  fro. 
His  brow  was  puckered  into  a  frown  and  it  was  evident 
that  he  was  deeply  moved. 

"  I  don't  think  that  we  have  ever  really  realized  it. 
These  poor  innocent  natives,  butchered  in  cold  blood, 
and  all  for  the  sake  of  gold.  And  they  are  white  people 
as  ourselves  who  reap  the  profit  from  this  slavery." 

"  Their  condition  is  worse  than  slavery,"  Gaunt  said 
quietly. 

"  Can  nothing  be  done  ?  Are  we  quite  helpless  ? " 
Drake  cried  passionately. 

There  was  no  reply  and  there  was  something  akin  to 
contempt  in  the  look  that  he  gave  Gaunt. 

"  You  are  a  rich  man,  and  you  say  that  your  wealth 
was  founded  on  this  base  traffic.  You  are  in  the  confi- 
dence of  these  monsters  who  are  wringing  gold  by 
murder  and  torture  —  can  you  think  of  no  remedy  ?  "  he 
cried  vehemently. 

"  It  is  a  difficult  question.  Europe  is  too  busy  with  its 
own  affairs  to  concern  itself.  Righteous  England  has 
only  been  able  to  talk  and  threaten  and  has  been  afraid 
of  deeds.  Belgium  has  taken  advantage  of  this,  and  has 
calmly  gone  its  own  way,  secure  in  the  knowledge  that 
we  should  confine  ourselves  to  words." 

"  But  there  must  be  some  way  of  helping  these  poor 
people,"  Drake  said  desperately. 

"  If  you  can  suggest  anything  I  shall  be  glad  to  listen 
to  you.  I  appreciate  that  it  is  my  duty  to  do  all  that 


70  THE    VOW 

lies  in  my  power.  I  place  myself  in  your  hands, 
Drake " 

"  It  is  an  awful  responsibility.  But  I  will  find  a  way. 
This  talk  with  you  has  brought  the  grim  reality  before 
my  eyes.  I  shall  know  no  rest  until  we  attempt  some- 
thing to  help.  At  this  moment  innocent  people  are 
being  done  to  death.  It  is  infamous." 

"  There  is  no  alternative  while  the  present  people  have 
power.  Unless  they  Torce  the  natives  to  work  rubber 
will  cease  to  come  in.  The  people  are  broken  and  the 
land  devastated  to  such  an  extent  that  it  will  take  gener- 
ations to  recover.  If  the  Congo  isr  to  be  governed 
equitably,  it  will  be  necessary  to  sink  millions  in  the 
country  instead  of  draining  them  out.  No,  Drake,  the 
position  is  hopeless  so  long  as  the  Belgians  rule  the 
Congo." 

"  I  will  not  believe  it.  There  must  be  some  remedy 
for  such  a  heart-breaking  state  of  affairs.  No  punishment 
would  be  too  great  for  the  men  who  have  perpetrated 
this  crime." 

Gaunt  did  not  speak  but  concentrated  all  his  attention 
on  the  fresh  cigar  he  had  taken  from  the  box. 

"  Are  you  with  me  heart  and  soul  ?  Would  you 
make  any  sacrifice  to  help  this  downtrodden  people  ?  " 
Drake  asked,  and  now  he  spoke  quietly  and  calmly. 

"  I  repeat  that  I  am  in  your  hands,"  Gaunt  replied. 

"  God  will  help  me  to  find  a  way." 

The  words  were  spoken  confidently  and  the  two  men 
stared  at  one  another  steadily. 


CHAPTER  X 

A  FORTNIGHT  passed  and  Gaunt  made  no  fur- 
ther effort  to  arrive  at  an  understanding  with 
his  wife.     They  met  but  seldom,  and  always  in 
the  presence  of  Edward  Drake  or  Lady  Ethel,  so  that 
he    came    to   the    conclusion   that   Lady    Mildred   was 
desirous  of  avoiding  any  intimate  conversation  with  him, 
and  in  this  supposition  he  was  right. 

As  a  matter  of  fact  Lady  Mildred  was  unsettled  in 
mind,  and  did  not  quite  know  what  she  herself  wished. 
It  must  be  remembered  that  love  had  never  touched  her 
heart,  and  she  much  preferred  to  keep  her  feelings  well 
in  hand,  for  she  imagined  that  to  care  for  a  man  deeply 
would  cause  her  more  discomfort  than  pleasure. 

Lady  Mildred  was  physically  strong  and  she  had 
completely  recovered  her  health ;  in  fact  motherhood 
had  added  to  her  beauty,  for  it  had  given  a  gentler 
expression  to  her  face  and  had  banished  a  great  deal  of 
the  coldness  that  had  been  there.  A  drive  in  the  park 
had  brought  a  fresh  color  to  her  cheeks  so  that  when 
she  reentered  the  house,  her  sister  looked  at  her  with 
undisguised  admiration. 

"  Mildred,  I  am  only  just  beginning  to  realize  how 
very  beautiful  you  are,"  Lady  Ethel  remarked.  "  I  am 
not  surprised  that  your  husband  adores  you  so  openly." 

Lady  Mildred  made  no  reply  but  took  off  her  coat 
and  turned  away  her  face  so  that  her  sister  should  not 
see  the  flush  that  had  come  to  her  cheeks. 

7' 


72 THE    VOW 

"  Will  you  ring  for  tea  ?  "  she  said  quietly. 

Lady  Ethel  laughed  slightly  as  she  touched  the  button 
of  the  bell,  and  there  was  still  a  smile  on  her  face  when 
she  took  a  seat  by  the  side  of  her  sister. 

"  I  think  you  are  a  very  lucky  woman  and  ought  to  be 
very  happy  —  but  I  don't  think  you  are,  Mildred," 
she  remarked  frankly. 

"  Are  you  not  just  a  little  impertinent  ?  "  Lady  Mil- 
dred said  coldly. 

"  No.  Only  curious,  which  is  the  prerogative  of 
youth.  I  quite  like  this  husband  of  yours,  although 
when  I  first  saw  him  at  the  wedding,  I  thought  him 
rather  hateful,  and  wondered  how  you  could  marry  him." 

"  You  forget  that  John  is  a  rich  man,"  Lady  Mildred 
said  bitterly. 

"  No.  I  don't  forget,  for  I  am  quite  sure  that  you 
would  never  have  married  for  money  alone.  I  have 
been  watching  you  two  rather  closely  of  late  and  some- 
times I  think  you  care  for  him  much  more  than  you  will 
allow  any  one  to  see." 

As  she  spoke  she  looked  steadily  at  her  sister,  and 
was  pleased  to  see  that  her  words  were  not  without 
effect,  for  Lady  Mildred  was  very  angry. 

"  You  talk  like  a  sentimental  schoolgirl.  You 
imagine  love  to  be  the  most  important  thing  in  the 
world." 

"  So  it  is,  my  dear,  and  you'll  find  it  out  some  day. 
Let  me  give  you  a  little  sisterly  advice.  John  tB  by  no 
means  an  ordinary  man,  and  I  warn  you  that  he  may  be 
driven  too  far.  Perhaps  you  won't  know  his  real  worth 
until  you  lose  him.  As  I  said  before,  I  have  been  keep- 
ing my  eyes  open  and  it  is  very  evident  that  your 


THE    VOW  73 

husband  is  in  trouble  of  some  kind.  I  wonder  you  don't 
speak  to  him  frankly  and  offer  to  share  it.  You  would 
be  received  with  open  arms,"  Lady  Ethel  said  with 
unwonted  seriousness. 

"  If  John  has  worries,  I  am  ready  to  help  him  to  the 
best  of  my  ability." 

"  Why  don't  you  tell  him  so  ?" 

"  It  is  not  my  place  to  ask  for  his  confidence.  You 
really  are  going  too  far,  Ethel.  I  think  I  will  rest  till 
dinner  time,"  she  said  wearily. 

But  when  she  reached  her  room  Lady  Mildred  made 
no  attempt  to  sleep,  for  she  was  strangely  disturbed; 
instinct  told  her  that  there  was  a  good  deal  of  truth  in 
what  Lady  Ethel  had  said. 

Did  she  love  her  husband  ?  The  question  could  not 
be  answered  readily,  although  she  realized  that  her  feel- 
ings towards  him  were  very  different  to  what  they  were 
at  the  time  of  their  marriage. 

Before  she  began  to  dress  for  dinner,  a  visit  was  paid 
to  the  nursery  and  she  took  the  baby  in  her  arms  and 
pressed  it  closely  to  her  breast.  Its  eyes  were  open  and 
it  struck  her  very  forcibly  that  the  child  was  more  like 
her  husband  than  herself,  and  she  was  conscious  of  a  twinge 
of  jealousy,  but  the  feeling  quickly  passed  and  again  she 
remembered  John  Gaunt's  never  varying  kindness.  Did 
she  love  him  ? 

Her  lips  reverently  touched  the  baby  and  she  turned 
away  with  a  sigh.  As  she  slowly  dressed,  a  determina- 
tion was  born  —  a  determination  to  give  her  husband  a 
chance,  and  to  allow  him  to  approach  more  closely  to  her. 

During  dinner  Gaunt  was  very  quiet  but  as  soon  as 
the  meal  was  over  he  rose  from  the  table. 


74  THE    VOW 


"  Mr.  Drake  and  I  have  an  engagement  —  if  you  will 
excuse  us,"  he  announced  quietly. 

"  Is  it  important  ?  I  rather  wanted  to  talk  to  you," 
Lady  Mildred  answered  with  unwonted  tenderness. 

"  I  am  sorry.  It  is  a  meeting  about  the  Congo, 
and " 

"  Will  you  take  me  with  you?"  Lady  Ethel  broke  in 
eagerly. 

"  Do  you  wish  to  listen  to  a  recital  of  horrors  ?"  he 
asked  brusquely. 

"  I  should  like  to  go.  I  am  interested  in  the  Congo," 
she  answered. 

"  I,  too,  would  like  to  go,"  Lady  Mildred  said,  and  the 
two  men  were  surprised  at  the  announcement. 

"  I  think  you  would  be  wiser  to  stay  at  home,"  Drake 
said  nervously. 

"  I  wish  to  go,"  Lady  Mildred  rejoined  coldly. 

Gaunt  shrugged  his  shoulders  and  made  no  further 
objection,  but  he  was  very  silent  during  the  drive  to  the 
hall,  where  the  meeting  was  to  take  place.  They 
entered  a  building  that  was  packed  from  gallery  to  floor 
and  on  the  platform  were  many  well-known  faces.  The 
Archbishop  of  Canterbury  was  the  chairman  and  he  was 
supported  by  the  heads  of  the  free  churches,  while 
notabilities  from  every  branch  of  life  were  present  to  add 
weight  to  the  protest  against  the  crime  of  the  Congo. 

Eloquent  words  were  spoken  —  words  that  deeply 
stirred  the  hearts  of  the  vast  crowd  as  they  listened  to 
the  description  of  the  sufferings  of  a  people  who  were 
powerless  to  help  themselves.  Then  a  manifesto  was 
jead  which  had  been  issued  and  signed  by  every  well- 
known  divine  in  the  country. 


THE    VOW  75 

"  Twenty-five  years  ago  we  sanctioned  the  formation 
of  the  so-called  '  Congo  Free  State,'  on  the  ground  of  its 
being  a  '  humane  and  benevolent  enterprise.'  We  in- 
voked the  divine  blessing  upon  an  undertaking  which 
was  intended  to  work  to  the  benefit  of  the  inhabitants  of 
the  country.  To  speak  of  those  hopes  as  falsified 
is  to  use  too  mild  a  term.  The  basin  of  the  Congo 
is  to-day  the  scene  of  as  cruel  a  tyranny  as  exists  on 
earth." 

Lady  Mildred  listened  with  the  deepest  interest.  Like 
the  great  mass  of  the  British  people  she  had  read  some- 
thing of  the  state  of  affairs,  but  no  lasting  impression 
had  been  left  on  her  mind.  But  the  eloquent  words  to 
which  she  listened  brought  the  whole  cruel  tragedy 
vividly  before  her  mind. 

John  Gaunt  had  founded  his  fortune  on  "  red  rubber," 
and  John  Gaunt  was  her  husband. 

Her  eyes  happened  to  rest  on  his  face  and  she  saw 
that  he  was  very  pale  —  what  were  his  thoughts  of  this 
scathing  indictment  of  a  nation  ?  She  dared  not  think. 

"  Where  are  you  going,  John  ? "  she  whispered 
hoarsely. 

A  speaker  had  just  sat  down,  and  Gaunt  was  making 
his  way  rapidly  to  the  platform  which  he  quietly  mounted 
and  turned  to  face  the  audience. 

"  I  am  John  Gaunt  and  I  wish  to  speak,"  he  said  in  a 
clear  ringing  voice. 

A  murmur  arose,  and  the  chairman  whispered  to  those 
near  him. 

What  could  this  millionaire  wish  to  say  to  them? 
This  man  whose  gold  had  the  taint  of  blood. 

Lady  Mildred's   breath   came   quickly  and  the  time 


76  THE    VOW 

seemed  interminable  as  she  waited  for  her  husband  to 
continue  his  speech. 

Edward  Drake  watched  the  scene  with  a  feeling  of 
intense  excitement,  for  he  had  no  idea  what  Gaunt  was 
about  to  say.  It  was  but  a  few  hours  ago  that  the  sub- 
ject of  their  presence  had  been  discussed.  The  meeting 
had  attracted  a  good  deal  of  attention  and  it  chanced 
that  during  the  afternoon,  Drake  was  reading  an  article 
in  the  Times  when  Gaunt  entered  the  library. 

"  Mr.  Gaunt,  I  think  that  the  time  has  come  for 
action,"  Drake  cried  eagerly.  "  Have  you  read  this 
leader  about  the  Congo  ?  " 

"  I  have  just  glanced  at  it.  Isn't  there  a  meeting  of 
some  sort  to-night  ?  "  was  the  careless  answer. 

"  Yes,  and  I  think  you  ought  to  be  present.  A  fort- 
night has  passed  and  we  have  done  nothing,"  Drake 
replied  energetically. 

"  What  do  you  suggest  ?  " 

"  This  meeting  is  intended  as  a  weighty  protest  against 
the  inaction  of  the  English  government.  The  speakers 
are  eminent  men  and  there  can  be  no  question  about 
their  disinterestedness.  If  such  a  man  as  yourself  raised 
a  voice,  the  effect  would  be  increased  a  thousandfold." 

"  You  mean  because  of  my  connection  with  the 
Congo  ?  "  Gaunt  asked  thoughtfully. 

"  Yes.  The  public  more  or  less  connect  you  with  the 
Congo  Free  State,  and  if  you  were  to  relate  your  experi- 
ence, it  would  have  an  enormous  influence  for  good. 
During  these  years  while  a  war  has  been  raged  against 
this  iniquitous  rule  the  burden  has  rested  on  the  shoul- 
ders of  one  man  —  the  secretary  of  the  Congo  Republic 
Convention.  He  has  pluckily  fought  a  battle  with  pub- 


THE    VOW  77 


lie  apathy,  but  little  can  be  done  without  funds.  You 
have  said  that  you  are  prepared  to  spend  your  wealth  in 
righting  the  wrongs  which  you  have  committed.  In 
what  better  way  can  you  do  so  than  by  joining  hands 
with  those  who  are  strenuously  endeavoring  to  obtain 
justice  for  the  natives  of  the  Congo?"  Drake  said 
earnestly. 

"  There  is  something  in  what  you  say,  but  have  you 
thought  how  such  an  action  would  affect  me  personally  ? 
My  Belgian  friends  will  say  I  have  '  ratted/  while  if  I  tell 
the  brutal  truth  my  English  friends  will  call  me  a  black- 
guard, and  refuse  to  associate  with  me.  You  must  re- 
member that  the  Belgians  have  always  denied  that  any 
atrocities  have  been  committed." 

"  The  statement  by  you  will  remove  every  doubt," 
Drake  cried  impetuously. 

"  It  is  rather  a  large  order  to  ask  me  to  do  this.  I 
think  you  know  that  if  I  do  undertake  it,  I  shall  not 
mince  matters,"  Gaunt  said  quietly. 

"  So  much  the  better.  Under  the  circumstances  I  do 
not  think  that  you  have  the  right  to  consider  yourself 
personally.  You  have  led  me  to  believe  that  you  are 
honest  in  your  determination  to  fulfil  your  vow.  If  this 
is  true,  you  cannot  hesitate  for  a  moment." 

"  I  quite  understand  your  point  of  view,  but  I  must 
own  that  I  had  not  anticipated  any  such  public  action 
as  you  suggest." 

"  Do  you  honestly  wish  to  help  the  natives  of  the 
Congo  ?  "  Drake  cried  vehemently. 

"  I  haven't  considered  them  —  I  am  only  thinking  of 
myself,"  Gaunt  answered  drily.  "  Perhaps  you  will  be 
quiet  for  a  few  minutes." 


78 THE    VOW 

Drake  watched  him  eagerly,  and  when  the  minutes 
passed  he  grew  despondent  for  he  recognized  that  he  had 
set  a  difficult  task,  and  one  that  would  require  courage 
of  a  high  order  to  carry  out. 

"  Surely  I  was  not  mistaken  in  this  man,"  he  told  him- 
self hopefully. 

Gaunt  rose  and  crossed  over  to  a  cabinet  from  which 
he  took  a  cigar.  Still  he  did  not  speak  and  the  silence 
continued  for  some  time. 

"  You  are  not  going  to  draw  back  ?  "  Drake  cried  in 
desperation. 

"  No.     I  will  accompany  you  to  the  meeting." 

"  Thank  God !     And  you  will  bear  witness  to " 

"  I  will  make  no  promise,"  Gaunt  interrupted  him 
quietly. 

Drake  possessed  tact  and  he  recognized  that  it  was  not 
the  moment  to  apply  pressure.  If  a  decision  had  been 
arrived  at,  nothing  he  could  now  say  would  change  it, 
and  he  must  possess  his  soul  in  patience. 

The  fact  that  Lady  Mildred  and  her  sister  were  to  ac- 
company them  disturbed  him  greatly,  for  it  was  but  nat- 
ural to  think  that  their  presence  might  cause  Gaunt  to 
modify  any  statement  that  he  intended  to  make. 

But  Drake  did  not  yet  fully  understand  the  character 
of  John  Gaunt 


CHAPTER  XI 

DURING  the   last  two  weeks   Gaunt  had  been 
working  hard  in  the  City  and  had  made  ar- 
rangements   for   relinquishing  his   active   life. 
Tempting  propositions  had  been  brought  to  him  but 
they  had  been  firmly  refused,  and  the  general  impression 
was  that  he  had  made  sufficient  money  to  satisfy  even 
his  requirements  and  was  about  to  retire. 

There  was  no  attempt  to  disguise  from  himself  that 
the  chief  matter  with  which  he  must  deal  was  the  Congo, 
and  he  brought  all  his  intellect  to  bear  on  the  problem 
before  him.  But  the  difficulties  seemed  well-nigh  insur- 
mountable. 

Now  that  he  knew  his  position,  it  was  characteristic 
that  he  would  not  discuss  the  matter  with  Drake  until  he 
could  see  daylight.  The  suggestion  that  he  should 
speak  at  the  meeting  was  distasteful  in  the  extreme,  but 
finally  he  decided  that  refusal  was  impossible. 

When  he  faced  the  thousands  of  tense  faces  he  was  calm 
and  collected. 

"  Have  I  your  Grace's  permission  to  speak  ?  "  he  asked 
of  the  Archbishop. 

The  latter  rose  and  cleared  his  throat. 

"My  lords,  ladies  and  gentlemen.  Most  of  you  know 
the  name  of  John  Gaunt,  and  I  feel  sure  that  you  will  be 
interested  in  one  who  must  have  unique  knowledge  of 
the  subject  we  are  discussing,"  he  said,  and  resumed  his 
seat. 

79 


8o THE    VOW 

"  I  thank  your  Grace,  and  promise  that  I  will  detain 
you  for  but  a  few  moments.  I  have  listened  attentively 
to  all  that  you  have  said  and  I  tell  you  that  the  condi- 
tion of  affairs  in  the  Congo  has  not  been  exaggerated.  I 
do  not  intend  to  shock  you  with  horrors,  but  with  my 
own  eyes  I  have  seen  men,  women  and  even  children 
murdered  in  cold  blood,  maimed  and  tortured." 

He  paused,  for  a  hoarse  murmur  had  arisen  so  that  it 
was  a  few  minutes  before  he  could  continue. 

"  I  admit  that  I  myself  have  made  money  through 
labor  which  has  been  procured  by  these  means.  My 
wealth  is  founded  on  the  '  red  rubber '  which  has  come 
from  the  Congo.  I  tell  you  this  so  that  you  shall  know 
I  am  quite  honest  in  what  I  am  about  to  say,  for  I  shall 
speak  against  my  own  pecuniary  interests.  You  have 
been  discussing  the  effects  of  the  annexation  of  the 
Congo  by  the  Belgian  government,  and  some  of  you 
have  expressed  the  hope  that  matters  may  be  improved 
thereby." 

He  paused,  and  the  silence  was  intense. 

"  Your  hopes  are  doomed  to  disappointment  There 
can  be  no  improvement  in  the  conditions,  for  any 
improvement  would  necessitate  the  abandonment  of 
the  slavery  which  exists.  I  said  slavery  —  but  it  is 
hardly  the  right  word,  for  in  modern  history  slavery  has 
not  meant  work  forced  by  the  fear  of  death  or  torture. 
Wherever  the  late  King  held  active  sway,  there  the 
country  was  laid  waste  by  the  sword,  and  rubber  was 
produced  not  with  any  idea  of  the  future  but  solely  for 
immediate  gold.  The  abandonment  of  the  present 
system  can  only  be  accomplished  by  the  abandonment 
of  the  Congo  by  the  Belgians.  That  they  will  not  do 


THE    VOW  81 

unless  compelled  by  superior  force.  Their  present 
budget  anticipates  a  profit  of  nearly  a  million  pounds. 
If  the  land  and  produce  of  the  soil  be  returned  to  the 
rightful  owners  —  the  natives  —  then,  instead  of  a  profit, 
there  would  necessarily  be  a  heavy  deficit.  When  the 
Congo  budget  provides  for  a  deficit  and  not  a  huge 
profit,  then  and  not  till  then  will  you  know  that  the 
natives  are  about  to  receive  fair  treatment.  That  will 
occur  only  when  the  country  has  been  drained  dry.  If 
you  hear  that  a  portion  of  the  country  has  been  opened 
to  the  foreigner,  you  will  know  that  that  portion  is 
worthless,  for  the  population  will  either  have  been  killed 
or  have  fled  from  the  fear  of  death,  and  the  produce  will 
have  been  exhausted." 

This  statement  made  a  profound  impression,  and  all 
anxiously  waited  for  Gaunt  to  continue. 

"  You  are  seeking  the  amelioration  of  the  natives. 
To  accomplish  this  you  must  remove  the  present 
officials.  There  must  be  no  half  measures  and  I  am 
convinced  that  no  amount  of  talk  will  have  the  slightest 
effect.  Actions  and  not  words  are  required,  and  it  is  for 
you  to  see  that  England  does  more  than  talk.  A  single 
gunboat  at  the  mouth  of  the  river  would  affect  a  change, 
while  diplomatic  representations  will  be  swept  aside  as 
has  been  done  in  the  past.  Surely  England  is  strong 
enough  to  act  alone  —  or  is  it  fear  of  Germany  that  ties 
her  hands  ?  If  this  be  the  case,  it  is  not  the  spirit  that 
won  our  empire,  and  as  a  race  we  are  doomed.  Let 
there  be  no  more  hesitation,  let  each  of  you  use  his  in- 
fluence and  bring  pressure  to  bear  upon  our  government." 

"  We  have  already  done  everything  in  our  power,"  a 
bishop  interrupted  vehemently. 


82  THE    VOW 

"  Then  I  fear  that  the  reform  of  the  Congo  is  impos- 
sible. But  let  us  make  an  effort.  I  am  a  rich  man  — - 
rich,  largely  through  the  Congo  —  but,  if  money  is 
necessary,  I  am  prepared  to  spend  every  penny  piece  of 
it  on  this  work.  More  than  that,  I  now  publicly 
announce  that  from  this  moment  I  am  the  enemy  of  the 
governors  of  the  Congo.  Any  ability  that  I  possess 
shall  be  used  to  affect  reform." 

There  was  a  murmur  which  developed  into  loud 
cheers,  and  there  was  a  look  of  defiance  in  Gaunt's  eyes 
as  he  listened. 

"  My  lords,  I  feel  that  I  owe  you  some  personal 
explanation.  You  must  have  viewed  my  appearance 
here  with  mingled  feelings,  for  I  am  aware  that  I  am 
looked  upon  as  one  of  the  strongest  supporters  of  the 
present  regime.  You  all  know  the  name  of  Edward 
Drake,  who  has  done  such  good  work  in  the  East  End 
of  London,  and  I  refer  you  to  him  should  you  have  any 
doubt  as  to  the  honesty  of  my  intentions.  It  is  owing 
to  his  influence  that  I  am  here  to-night." 

Gaunt  paused  for  a  moment  and  the  Archbishop  rose 
to  his  feet. 

"  I  am  sure  that  we  have  listened  to  Mr.  Gaunt's  state- 
ment with  profound  interest.  From  one  point  alone 
what  he  has  said  is  invaluable.  His  evidence  will 
remove  every  shadow  of  doubt  as  to  the  atrocities  that 
have  been  and  are  taking  place  in  the  Congo.  I  must 
own  frankly  that  I  looked  always  upon  him  as  one  of 
our  bitterest  enemies.  I  have  been  ashamed  to  think 
that  an  Englishman  could  have  profited  by  cruelty  and 
torture.  Surely  God  must  have  brought  him  here 
to-night.  We  must  all  admire  the  courage  with  which 


THE    VOW  83 


he  has  spoken.  It  was  no  light  thing  to  face  us  and 
frankly  admit  the  sins  of  the  past,  and  I  honor  him  for 
what  he  has  done.  He  has  taken  the  only  course  open 
to  a  Christian,  for  he  has  promised  to  do  his  utmost  to 
right  the  wrongs  in  which  he  has  been  a  participator. 
Before  Mr.  Gaunt  resumes  his  seat,  I  should  like  to  ask 
him  one  question.  Naturally  he  is  in  touch  with  the 
rulers  of  the  Congo  —  would  it  not  be  possible  for  him 
to  use  his  influence  with  them,  to  bring  pressure  to  bear 
upon  them  that  they  should  govern  the  natives  equi- 
tably ?  " 

The  Archbishop  resumed  his  seat  and  Gaunt  con- 
tinued : 

"  No  personal  influence  or  pressure  would  effect  any 
change.  There  is  only  one  effective  weapon  —  force. 
The  position  of  England  has  caused  a  good  deal  of 
cynical  amusement  in  the  Congo.  The  British  govern- 
ment would  only  move  if  so  great  a  feeling  were  aroused 
in  this  country  that  they  dared  not  do  otherwise.  Much 
has  been  done  in  recent  years  by  meetings  and  writings 
in  the  press  ;  but  the  Congo  is  so  far  away  that  the  truth 
has  never  been  driven  home.  The  question  of  Tariff 
Reform  or  Free  Trade  can  rouse  fierce  passions,  for  the 
principle  touches  our  pocket ;  but  that  thousands  of 
human  beings  should  suffer  torture  —  that  is  a  thing  to 
read  and  be  harrowed  about  —  but  a  cup-tie  is  of  much 
more  immediate  importance.  Perhaps  I  am  unjust  to 
my  fellow  countrymen,  for  at  times  they  have  been 
aroused  to  white  fury  by  the  story  of  oppression  and 
murder.  Witness  the  Armenian  atrocities.  But  then 
there  was  a  great  man  with  a  silver  tongue  who  could 
move  a  nation  by  his  words.  And  the  only  chance  for 


84  THE    VOW 


the  people  of  the  Congo  is  that  such  a  man  should  rise 
again  and  tear  from  us  our  complacency.  Make  the 
British  people  understand  that  they  have  been  cleverly 
swindled.  The  late  King  played  the  confidence  trick 
upon  America  and  the  great  powers  of  Europe.  He 
deliberately  hoodwinked  them  with  his  tongue  in  his 
cheek.  But  King  Leopold  was  a  master  '  crook.'  He 
was  a  born  diplomat  of  the  most  unscrupulous  type ;  and 
to  his  dying  day  he  was  a  match  for  every  foreign 
secretary  that  crossed  swords  with  him.  And  he  has 
left  worthy  lieutenants  behind.  I  dare  prophesy  that  we 
shall  again  receive  the  most  specious  promises  that 
reform  will  take  place  at  once  —  say  in  a  month  or  two  ; 
but  the  date  will  always  be  a  few  months  ahead  until 
they  have  drained  every  grain  of  gold  from  this  most 
unhappy  country.  Again  I  say  that  I  am  prepared  to 
spend  my  last  penny  in  helping  you  in  your  work." 

John  Gaunt  bowed  and  then  stepped  down  from  the 
platform.  His  face  was  set  as  he  walked  straight  to  the 
place  where  he  had  been  sitting. 

"  Where  is  my  wife  ?  "  he  asked  of  Drake  who  sat 
alone. 

"  She  went  away  with  Lady  Ethel  about  five  minutes 
ago,"  Drake  answered,  and  his  eyes  were  shining  lumi- 
nously as  they  rested  on  Gaunt. 

"  I  think  we  had  better  follow  them.  Come  along," 
the  latter  said  curtly. 

And  all  eyes  were  fixed  on  Gaunt's  face  as  he  strode 
from  the  hall.  When  he  drew  near  the  door  a  cheer 
arose  which  gathered  in  volume  until  it  became  deafening. 

"  Let  us  walk  home,"  Gaunt  said  quietly,  and  for  a 
time  they  made  their  way  in  silence. 


THE    VOW  85 


"  Mr.  Gaunt,  you  were  splendid,"  Drake  said  in  a  low 
voice. 

"  I  am  glad  that  you  are  satisfied,"  he  answered  drily. 
"  Do  you  know  why  my  wife  left  ?  " 

"  No.     She  wouldn't  allow  me  to  accompany  her." 

"  Do  you  think  that  she  was  angry  ?  Did  she  say 
anything  to  you  ?  " 

"  Nothing,  but  I  thought  that  she  was  disturbed," 
Drake  answered  hesitatingly. 

Gaunt  once  more  lasped  into  silence,  and  they  walked 
rapidly  along  until  they  reached  his  home. 

"  There  is  a  gentleman  waiting  to  see  you,  sir,"  the 
footman  said  deprecatingly. 

"  Who  is  it  ?  " 

"  Mr.  Braithwaite,  sir.  I  told  him  that  you  were 
out,  but  he  insisted  upon  waiting.  In  fact  I  couldn't  get 
rid  of  him." 

Gaunt  uttered  an  exclamation  of  impatience,  and  went 
at  once  to  the  library. 

"  What  are  you  doing  here  ?  "  he  asked  roughly. 

"  Thank  God  you've  come,  Gaunt.  You  must  let  me 
make  some  money.  We  haven't  had  a  meal  for  two 
days  and  the  children  are  starving,"  Braithwaite  said 
piteously.  He  was  a  broken  man  and  tears  were  in  his 
eyes. 

"  I  told  you  that  I  had  helped  you  for  the  last  time, 
and  when  I  say " 

Gaunt  stopped  and  an  expression  of  dismay  came  to 
his  face  when  he  remembered  his  vow. 

"  For  pity's  sake "  Braithwaite  appealed. 

"  No,  for  the  sake  of  my  word,"  Gaunt  answered  as  he 
drew  a  case  from  his  pocket  from  which  he  took  a  couple 


86  THE    VOW 

of  bank  notes.  "  Take  these  and  I'll  give  orders  that  a 
basket  shall  be  got  ready  for  you.  It's  too  late  for  shop- 
ping to-night.  No  thanks,  please." 

"  May  God  bless  you,"  Braithwaite  said  fervently,  and 
he  was  crying  quietly. 

But  Gaunt  made  no  reply. 


CHAPTER  XII 

AS  soon  as  his  visitor  had  gone,  Gaunt  took  a 
cigar  and  sat  down  in  an  armchair  before  the 
fire.     Very  carefully  he  thought  over  the  events 
of  the  night,  and  it  seemed  to  him  that  he  could  not 
have  acted  differently,  although  at  the  meeting  he  had 
said  more  than  he  had  intended.     It  was  his  wife  that 
troubled  him,  and  the  effect  which  his  speech  would  have 
upon   her.     Here   he   was   totally   in  the  dark,  and  he 
began   to  understand  that  he  knew  very  little  of  Lady 
Mildred's  real  character. 

"  I  had  better  get  it  over  at  once,"  he  said,  and  has- 
tened up-stairs. 

He  turned  the  handle  of  his  wife's  bedroom,  only  to 
find  that  the  door  was  locked. 

"  Mildred,"  he  called  to  her. 

"  I  am  tired.     Good-night." 

The  words  were  coldly  spoken  and  he  went  away  at 
once,  but  he  had  no  wish  for  bed  and  so  returned  to  the 
smoking-room  where  he  found  Drake  awaiting  him. 

"  Braithwaite  has  spoken  to  me.  You  have  the 
pleasure  of  knowing  that  you  have  made  one  man  su- 
premely happy,"  the  latter  said  earnestly. 

"  I  do  not  know  that  that  gives  me  any  great  pleasure. 
At  first  I  refused  to  help  him,  and  he  would  have  gone 
away  without  a  penny,  if  I  hadn't  remembered." 

"  You  mean  —  the  vow  ?  " 

87 


88  THE    VOW 

«  Yes  —  and  I  am  beginning  to  find  that  it  enters  into 
every  detail  of  my  life.  It's  a  big  thing  that  I'm  up  against, 
and  I'm  almost  tempted  to  own  myself  beaten,"  Gaunt 
said  wearily. 

"  I  understand.  You  are  afraid  that  Lady  Mil- 
dred  " 

"  We  will  not  discuss  my  wife,"  Gaunt  interrupted  him 
curtly.  "About  this  meeting  —  I  suppose  that  the 
papers  will  have  a  good  deal  to  say  in  the  morning." 

"  Your  intervention  was  certainly  dramatic.  You 
spoke  splendidly  and  I  believe  that  your  heart  was  in 
what  you  said.  It  seems  to  me  that  you  are  a  man  who 
essentially  loves  a  fight,  and  I  sha'n't  be  a  bit  surprised 
if  you  are  just  as  eager  to  defeat  the  Belgians  as  I  am. 
You  wouldn't  have  spoken  as  you  did  if  you  had  been 
animated  solely  by  your  vow,"  Drake  said  quietly. 

"  I  wonder  if  you  are  right,"  Gaunt  remarked  musingly. 
"  I  always  have  loved  to  overcome  obstacles  and  the 
greater  the  odds,  the  keener  I  was.  I  believe  there  is 
some  truth  in  your  suggestion.  You  evidently  know  me 
better  than  I  do  myself." 

"  I  believe  that  there  is  more  good  in  you  than  you 
will  allow  people  to  see.  The  apparent  hardness  has 
been  a  pose  that  you  have  produced  so  long  that  it  has 
become  almost  second  nature." 

"  You  flatter  me,  Drake.  By  the  bye,  I've  something 
amusing  to  tell  you.  You  remember  the  deal  in  Amantis 
with  Weiss  and  his  crowd.  Well,  it  appears  that  although 
the  wire  was  forged  there  has  been  a  discovery  of  gold, 
and  that  the  shares  have  gone  up  to  two  pounds.  More 
than  that,  they're  well  worth  the  money.  Will  you 
kindly  tell  me  how  I  stand?  First  with  reference  to 


THE    VOW  89 


Weiss,  and  secondly  with  reference  to  the  original  sellers 
of  the  shares.  I  don't  mean  how  I  stand  from  the 
strictly  business,  but  from  the  moral  point  of  view  ? " 
Gaunt  asked  grimly. 

Drake  laughed  quietly  to  himself. 

"  Forgive  me.  I  was  only  imagining  Weiss's  state  of 
mind.  Has  he  written  to  you  ?  "  he  asked. 

"  No,  but  he  called  when  I  was  out.  Do  you  suggest 
that  I  ought  to  pay  him  what  his  share  would  have 
been  ?  " 

"  Certainly  not,  and  I  am  speaking  from  the  moral 
point  of  view.  The  man  was  engaged  in  perpetrating  a 
bare-faced  swindle " 

"  To  which  I  was  a  party,"  Gaunt  interrupted  him 
quietly. 

"  And  I  do  not  think  that  he  ought  to  benefit.  Let 
him  do  his  worst.  I  don't  suppose  that  he  dare  make 
a  fuss,"  Drake  said  without  noticing  what  Gaunt  had 
said. 

"  Very  well,  I  will  follow  your  advice,  but  I  quite 
anticipate  a  lively  time  when  Weiss  and  I  do  happen  to 
meet.  Are  you  going  to  turn  in  ?  " 

"  Yes.  I  am  tired,  for  I  found  this  evening  rather 
exciting.  By  the  bye,  my  brother  Lindsay  arrives  to- 
morrow from  West  Africa,  and  I  intended  meeting  him, 
unless  you  particularly  want  me." 

"  I  didn't  know  you  had  a  brother  on  the  coast.  What 
is  he  doing  there?  "  Gaunt  asked  with  interest. 

"  He's  a  captain  in  the  West  African  Frontier  Force." 

"  Why  not  bring  him  to  stay  here  ?  There's  plenty  of 
room,  and  he  can  have  as  much  freedom  as  if  he  were  at 
an  hotel." 


90 THE    VOW 

"  That's  uncommonly  good  of  you.  I  should  like  it 
above  all  things.  Good-night." 

"  I  am  glad  that  you  are  satisfied  with  my  performance 
this  evening.  Good-night,"  Gaunt  answered  grimly. 

Drake  took  the  outstretched  hand,  and  the  two  men 
looked  at  one  another  steadily,  and  there  was  a  mutual 
liking  in  their  eyes. 

Alone,  Gaunt  began  to  pace  restlessly  to  and  fro. 
Even  while  he  had  been  addressing  the  meeting  his 
thoughts  were  with  Lady  Mildred,  and  now  a  great 
fear  was  clutching  at  his  heart.  Had  God  given  him  his 
wife's  life  only  to  withhold  her  love  for  which  he  longed 
with  every  fibre  of  his  being  ? 

Up-stairs  in  her  room,  Lady  Mildred  was  sobbing 
piteously.  Since  the  days  of  her  childhood  tears  had 
been  an  unknown  luxury,  but  now  she  was  stirred  to  the 
very  depths. 

"  I  hate  him,"  she  sobbed  forth  passionately. 

It  was  late  in  the  morning  when  she  went  down-stairs 
and  proceeded  at  once  to  the  library.  John  Gaunt  rose 
when  she  entered,  and  uttered  a  cry  of  amazement,  for  her 
face  was  very  white  and  dark  shadows  encircled  her  eyes. 

"  What  is  the  matter,  dear  ?  Are  you  ill  ?  "  he  asked 
anxiously. 

« No  —  only  sick  in  mind,"  she  answered  wearily. 
"  Have  patience  with  me,  John,  for  I  have  a  great  deal 
to  say  to  you,  and  you  may  not  understand  me,  for  I  do 
not  think  that  I  understand  myself." 

"  Sit  down,"  he  said  quietly,  and  wheeled  an  armchair 
nearer  to  the  fire.  "  What  has  happened  ?  "  he  asked 
anxiously. 

"  I   will  try  to  explain.     I  seem  to  have  awakened 


THE    VOW  91 

from  a  dream  and  my  whole  outlook  on  life  has  changed," 
she  said,  as  though  she  was  addressing  herself. 

"  Since  when  ?  "  he  asked  hoarsely. 

"  Since  last  night.  As  I  look  at  the  past  I  can  see 
nothing  but  abject  selfishness.  As  a  girl  my  one  thought 
was  of  my  own  comfort.  I  always  loved  the  good  things 
of  this  life  —  I  suppose  I  had  a  conscience  somewhere, 
but  it  never  troubled  me.  When  you  appeared,  I  was 
utterly  sick  of  poverty,  and  I  was  glad  that  you  seemed 
to  care  for  me.  Almost  from  the  first  I  made  up  my 
mind  to  be  your  wife.  I  didn't  care  for  you  very  much, 
but  still  I  disliked  you  rather  less  than  most  of  the  fools 
who  surrounded  me.  When  you  asked  me  to  marry  you 
my  eyes  were  just  a  little  bit  opened,  but  still  I  could  not 
see  clearly.  We  were  good  friends  always,  and  when 
the  baby  came  —  then  —  I  think  it  must  have  been  the 
dream  that  made  me  see  that  I  was  beginning  to  care  for 
you.  And  I  was  very  glad." 

Gaunt's  breath  came  quickly,  and  his  hand  stretched 
out  towards  her,  but  she  shook  her  head  when  she  saw 
the  mad  longing  in  his  eyes. 

"  But  I  was  not  sure.  Last  night  something  compelled 
me  to  go  with  you  to  that  dreadful  meeting  —  perhaps  it 
was  Fate.  All  my  life  the  idea  of  physical  suffering  has 
been  repugnant  to  me.  To  see  an  animal  in  pain  was 
torture.  You  are  surprised  at  this,  John,  but  you  know 
very  little  of  me.  One  of  the  strictest  rules  of  the  train- 
ing of  women  of  our  class  is  that  to  show  the  slightest 
sign  of  one's  feeling  is  bad  form.  We  are  taught  to 
batten  down  our  real  thoughts,  and  only  let  the  world  see 
what  it  will  find  agreeable.  And  therefore  we  are  all 
frauds," 


92  THE    VOW 

She  turned  her  face  towards  him  and  to  his  amazement 
there  were  tears  in  her  eyes. 

"  Of  course  I  had  read  of  the  Congo,  and  what  had 
gone  on  there,  but  it  never  made  much  impression  on 
my  mind  —  I  suppose  because  I  did  not  really  under- 
stand. But  as  I  listened  to  those  who  spoke  last  night, 
the  whole  ghastly  tragedy  was  revealed  to  me,  but  still  I 
did  not  connect  you  with  the  monsters  who  were  re- 
sponsible for  it." 

She  broke  off  and  gave  a  little  sob. 

"  There  was  that  missionary  who  told  of  the  baby 
whose  hands  had  been  chopped  off,  and  for  one  mad 
moment  I  thought  of  what  I  should  have  suffered  if  it 
had  been  my  own  child.  'Then  came  the  succession  of 
horrors,  of  brutality,  of  torturings,  of  murder,  of  the 
deliberate  mutilations,  and  still  I  did  not  remember.  I 
could  only  think  of  the  millions  who  are  in  the  Congo  — 
that  even  at  the  present  moment  some  fresh  outrage 
might  be  going  on." 

She  covered  her  face  with  her  hands,  and  her  body 
trembled  slightly.  Gaunt  stared  at  her  in  amazement, 
for  this  was  a  humor  of  which  he  had  not  thought  her 
capable.  What  was  she  going  to  say  to  him  ?  Again 
fear  held  him  in  its  grip. 

"  And  then  you  rose  from  your  seat.  Like  a  flash  it 
was  revealed  to  me  that  you  —  that  my  husband  was  one 
of  the  criminals,  who  had  coined  gold  by  this  devilish 
torturing  of  the  natives." 

"  Mildred,  you  do  not  know  what  you  are  saying,"  he 
cried  passionately. 

"  As  in  a  dream  I  listened  to  you,  and  was  amazed 
that  you  dared  face  the  people  and  deliberately  own 


THE    VOW 


to  them  that  you  were  a  murderer,"  she  said  ve- 
hemently. 

"  You  are  mad,"  he  said  hoarsely. 

"  What  are  you  but  a  murderer  ?  You  have  benefited 
by  the  slaying  of  helpless  people.  You  were  in  the 
country  and  did  not  raise  a  hand  to  prevent  it.  I  listened 
to  your  shameful  avowal  —  and  I  remembered  that  you 
were  my  husband,"  she  said  dully. 

"  I  think  that  you  cannot  have  recovered  from  your 
illness.  Had  you  not  better  lie  down  ?  "  he  said  quickly. 

"  But  that  was  not  the  worst.  Not  only  were  you  my 
husband,  but  you  were  the  father  of  my  child.  When 
the  little  one  comes  to  years  of  understanding  he  will 
hear  of  the  way  that  his  father  made  his  money  —  he 
will  bear  a  name  that  is  tainted,"  she  cried  passionately. 

Gaunt's  face  had  grown  very  white,  and  he  faced  her 
sternly. 

"  Mildred,  is  it  not  rather  late  in  the  day  to  have  these 
ideas?  When  I  asked  you  to  be  my  wife,  you  were 
aware  of  my  reputation,  and  you  made  no  objection,"  he 
said  coldly. 

"  I  was  a  blind  fool.  I  had  no  idea  what  it  really 
meant,  and  in  those  days  I  do  not  think  I  should  have 
greatly  cared  even  if  I  had  known." 

"  What  has  caused  this  change  ?  " 

"  I  found  out  a  few  hours  ago  —  I  found  out  that  I 
loved  you." 

Her  voice  scarcely  rose  above  a  whisper,  and  her  eyes 
were  turned  away. 

"  You  love  me.  Thank  God !  "  he  cried  passionately, 
and  he  stretched  out  his  arms. 

"  Yes.     I  love  you,"  she  cried  dully. 


94  THE    VOW 

"  Then  nothing  else  matters." 

She  had  risen  to  her  feet  and  he  drew  nearer  to  her, 
but  she  raised  her  hand. 

"  Don't  touch  me,"  she  cried  vehemently. 

"  I  don't  understand  you,  Mildred.  You  tell  me  that 
you  love  me,  and  yet " 

"  There  is  blood  on  your  hands.  I  love  you,  but  in- 
stead of  being  my  glory  it  is  my  shame,"  she  said  bro- 
kenly. 

"  You  are  melodramatic,  and  that  is  not  usual  in  you. 
I  wish  you  would  tell  me  exactly  what  you  do  mean," 
he  cried  impatiently. 

"  My  meaning  is  clear.  I  have  tried  to  explain, 
and " 

Gaunt  had  been  controlling  himself  by  a  great  effort, 
but  his  passion  cast  off  all  bonds  and  he  seized  her  in  his 
arms.  His  lips  sought  hers  and  he  kissed  her  passion- 
ately, not  once  but  many  times,  in  spite  of  her  struggles 
to  free  herself  from  his  embrace. 

"  You  love  me  and  I  tell  you  that  nothing  else  mat- 
ters. I  am  not  worse  than  other  men,"  he  cried  ear- 
nestly. 

"  Then  God  pity  other  men,"  she  answered  pantingly. 

She  had  drawn  away  from  him,  and  there  was  anger 
in  her  eyes. 

"  You  dare  kiss  me  after  what  I  have  said.  Do  you 
think  that  I  am  a  young  girl  to  be  swayed  by  a  caress  ?  " 

"  You  are  a  fool,  and  don't  know  when  you're  well 
off,"  he  said  savagely. 

And  there  followed  silence,  save  for  the  sound  of  Lady 
Mildred's  quick  breathing. 

"  Forgive  me,  dear.     I  forgot  myself  for  the  moment. 


THE    VOW  95 

Let  us  talk  the  wretched  business  over  quietly,  and  I 
think  that  I  can  convince  you  that  you  are  making  a 
great  fuss  about  nothing,"  he  said  quietly. 

"  I  am  willing  to  listen  to  you,  but  don't  touch  me 
again,  please.  If  you  do  I  shall  hate  you." 

He  gave  her  a  look  that  was  full  of  appeal,  and  when 
her  face  did  not  soften,  a  sigh  escaped  him.  But  now  he 
had  recovered  himself  and  was  determined  not  to  make 
another  false  move.  She  had  told  him  that  she  loved 
him.  With  that  in  his  favor  he  must  win  in  the  end,  and 
could  afford  to  be  patient. 

"  Sit  down,  dear,  and  let  us  talk  the  thing  over  sen- 
sibly. You  don't  mind  if  I  smoke?" 

As  he  spoke  he  took  a  cigar  and  spent  a  long  time  in 
preparing  it  for  smoking. 

"  I  was  quite  a  lad  when  I  went  to  the  Congo,  and  it 
is  not  fair  to  hold  me  responsible  for  what  went  on  in  the 
country.  On  my  honor,  I  have  never  been  guilty  of  the 
torturing  of  a  native,"  he  said  earnestly. 

"  But  still,  the  torturing  was  going  on  all  around  you, 
and  you  made  no  effort  to  prevent  it." 

"  My  efforts  would  have  been  useless.  In  those  days 
I  had  no  power,"  he  protested. 

"  Then  as  a  decent  man,  you  should  have  left  the 
country,  and  sought  a  cleaner  way  of  making  money. 
You  admit  that  you  remained  there  for  years.  Did  you 
never  feel  ashamed  ?  " 

"You  did  not  hear  all  I  said  last  night,"  he  said 
quietly. 

"  No.  If  I  had  stayed  much  longer  I  should  have 
broken  down.  I  had  no  wish  to  make  a  public  exhibi- 
tion of  myself." 


96  THE    VOW 

Now  she  had  recovered  herself  and  spoke  in  her  usual 
manner. 

"  I  stated  that  I  would  use  my  money  to  help  the  na- 
tives, and  I  intend  to  do  so." 

"Then  you  admit  that  my  accusations  are  just?"  she 
said  quickly. 

"  Yes.  I  have  always  known  that  my  conduct  was  in- 
famous. But  I  intended  to  make  money." 

"  Now  that  you  have  tardily  repented,  you  think  that 
you  will  earn  salvation  by  spending  some  of  your  ill-got- 
ten gold,"  she  cried  contemptuously. 

"  I  am  not  quite  sure  that  I  have  repented,"  he  an- 
swered grimly. 

"  Then  why  did  you  speak  as  you  did  ?  You  must 
have  known  the  sensation  it  would  make.  The  papers 
are  full  of  it,  and  you  have  earned  a  very  unenviable  no- 
toriety. Did  you  remember  that  this  notoriety  would 
reflect  upon  your  wife  and  child  ?  But  answer  my  ques- 
tion. If  not  for  repentance,  then  why  did  you  speak  ?  " 
she  asked  peremptorily. 

"  I  don't  think  I  will  answer  that  question." 

"  Then  I  must  ask  Mr.  Drake.  Of  course,  I  can  see 
that  he  has  had  a  hand  in  it." 

"  I  don't  think  Drake  will  give  you  much  informa- 
tion," he  said  impatiently. 

"  Is  that  all  you  have  to  say  ?  " 

"  No.     I  should  like  to  know  how  we  stand  ?  " 

"  I  have  told  you  and  can  say  no  more,"  she  answered 
wearily. 

"  You  have  told  me  that  you  love  me  —  but  in  the 
next  breath  you  tell  me  not  to  touch  you.  I  should  like 
something  definite." 


THE    VOW  97 

"  Then  you  must  give  me  time.  I  said  that  I  loved 
you  but  I  am  not  sure  that  it  is  true.  When  I  remem- 
ber, I  feel  that  I  loathe  you." 

"  I  think  I  prefer  loathing  to  indifference.  Still,  your 
request  is  not  unreasonable  and  I  am  willing  to  give  you 
time. 

"  Thank  you  —  and  in  the  meantime  ? "  she  asked 
nervously. 

"  In  the  meantime  it  shall  be  just  as  you  wish.  One 
question  more.  If  I  were  to  take  steps  —  practical  steps 
to  help  the  natives,  would  that  count  in  my  favor  ?  " 

"  Yes.  But  what  can  you  do  ? "  she  asked  wonder- 
ingly. 

"  Now  that  I  have  this  additional  motive,  I  may  find  a 
means.  Mildred,  dear,  you  have  shown  me  an  unsus- 
pected side  of  your  nature,  but  I  think  I  am  glad." 

"  Be  patient  with  me,  John.  I  think  I  am  only  just 
beginning  to  find  out  myself,  and  it  is  a  painful  experi- 
ence," she  said  with  a  wistful  smile. 

She  had  moved  towards  the  door,  and  he  followed 
quickly  after  her,  took  her  hand  and  raised  it  to  his  lips. 

"  I  shall  win.  I  shall  win,"  he  said  with  grim  deter- 
mination. 

Lady  Mildred  went  straight  to  the  nursery  and  sat 
down  by  the  cot  where  the  child  was  sleeping.  In 
speaking  to  her  husband  she  had  been  absolutely  frank, 
and  now,  when  she  thought  over  what  she  had  said,  she 
was  amazed  at  herself.  For  a  long  time  she  sat  there 
and  wondered  what  John  would  do. 

The  child  awoke  and  she  took  it  in  her  arms,  finding 
strange  comfort  to  feel  it  there. 

"  Yes,  baby  mine.     You  have  taught  me  a  great  deal, 


98  THE    VOW 

and  I  am  very  grateful  to  you,  dear,"  she  whispered,  and 
kissed  it  tenderly. 

Lunch  was  eaten  alone,  and  she  remained  in  her  own 
rooms  all  the  afternoon.  Every  now  and  then  she  would 
find  herself  wondering  what  her  husband  was  doing. 

When  she  had  ordered  tea  to  be  brought  to  her,  the 
door  opened,  and  Lady  Ethel  entered,  a  look  of  excite- 
ment on  her  face. 

"What  has  happened  between  you  and  John? "she 
cried  to  Lady  Mildred. 

"  What  do  you  mean  ?  Why  do  you  ask  the  ques- 
tion ?  " 

"  I  have  just  passed  the  library.  The  door  was  open. 
John  and  Mr.  Drake  and  another  gentleman  were 
talking.  I  heard  John  say  in  a  loud  voice :  '  Yes.  By 
Heaven  I  will  go  back  to  the  Congo.'  And  then  I  came 
away,  for  I  do  not  like  to  listen  to  what  is  not  intended 
for  my  ears.  Is  John  really  going  back  to  that  dreadful 
country  ?  "  Lady  Ethel  asked  anxiously. 

Lady  Mildred  rose  to  her  feet,  and  her  face  worked 
painfully. 

"  Should  it  be  true  ?  "  she  muttered  hoarsely. 


CHAPTER  XIII 

JOHN  GAUNT  was  deeply  moved  by  the  knowl- 
edge that  his  wife  loved  him,  and  he  felt  that  half 
the  battle  was  over;  but  upon  carefully  thinking 
over  what  she  had  said,  his  confidence  vanished,  for  he 
realized  that  she  possessed  a  will  as  strong  as  his  own, 
and  that  many  a  weary  day  might  pass  before  she  would 
give  herself  to  him. 

At  first  he  was  inclined  to  accuse  her  of  inconsistency 
for  he  had  never  judged  her  to  be  a  good  woman  in  the 
ordinary  sense  of  the  word.  But  she  had  spoken  with 
such  feeling  that  he  could  not  doubt  that  she  was  honest 
in  her  loathing  of  his  past. 

It  is  a  curious  trait  in  such  men  as  Gaunt  that  they 
can  love  if  they  do  not  respect  the  object  of  their 
affections,  and  he  had  never  been  blind  to  his  wife's 
faults.  Now  he  found  it  necessary  to  regard  her  from  a 
different  point  of  view  and  he  was  not  dissatisfied  that 
this  should  be  so.  So  long  as  there  had  been  no  child, 
he  had  been  content  that  she  should  think  of  nothing 
save  her  present  comfort  and  enjoyment,  but  now  he  was 
glad  that  the  mother  of  his  son  had  shown  that  she  could 
rise  above  such  considerations. 

Soon  there  came  the  memory  of  her  scathing  words, 
and  he  began  to  pace  restlessly  to  and  fro.  Yes  —  her 
accusations  were  just,  and  slowly  the  scales  fell  from  his 

99 


loo THE    VOW 

eyes  and  he  saw  his  actions  in  their  true  light.  It  is  not 
a  pleasant  moment  in  a  man's  life  when  he  first  under- 
stands that  his  character  is  base,  but  to  a  few  comes  this 
revelation  of  self. 

Gaunt  was  not  given  to  analyzing  his  own  character, 
but  for  a  long  time  he  sat  and  thought  over  the  many 
discreditable  actions  of  which  he  had  been  guilty.  True, 
there  were  no  mean  and  petty  sins,  for  if  he  had 
deliberately  done  wrong  it  had  been  with  the  idea  of 
reaping  a  substantial  benefit. 

It  was  strange  that  he  should  now  be  thinking  of 
himself  with  something  akin  to  contempt,  but  soon  the 
mood  changed  and  he  concentrated  all  his  brains  upon 
devising  some  plan  of  winning  his  wife.  For  the 
moment  all  memory  of  his  vow  had  vanished,  and  it  was 
solely  with  the  idea  of  pleasing  Lady  Mildred  that  he 
now  sought  a  scheme  to  benefit  the  natives  of  the 
Congo. 

He  idly  took  up  one  of  the  daily  papers  that  were 
spread  out  on  the  table  and  in  great  staring  head-lines 
read  of  the  meeting  of  the  previous  evening.  The 
comments  were  varied,  and  in  many  cases  not  too 
favorable  to  himself,  but  he  passed  them  by  with  a  grim 
smile. 

The  Daily  Comet  was  particularly  virulent :  "  The 
finishing  touch  to  an  hysterical  meeting  was  put  by  the 
notorious  millionaire  John  Gaunt.  With  calm  effrontery 
he  admitted  that  he  was  a  participator  in  the  alleged 
outrages  and  with  his  tongue  in  his  cheek  promised  to 
give  his  wealth  and  apply  his  brains  to  the  amelioration 
of  the  lot  of  the  natives  of  the  Congo.  Apparently  his 
offer  was  received  with  acclamation,  and  it  is  strange 


THE    VOW  101 

indeed  that  a  meeting,  which  consisted  chiefly  of  divines 
of  various  creeds,  should  welcome  into  its  fold  a  man 
with  Gaunt's  record.  If  rumor  speaks  truly,  the  Congo 
is  not  the  worst  part  of  the  millionaire's  past.  With  due 
respect  for  the  law  of  libel,  we  suggest  that  his  hands  are 
not  too  clean  with  respect  to  some  of  his  numerous 
company  promotions.  We  have  heard  a  story  with 
reference  to  a  deal  in  Amanti  shares,  to  which  we  may 
have  occasion  to  refer  more  particularly  at  a  future  date. 
In  the  meantime  we  intend  to  follow  closely  John 
Gaunt's  footsteps  in  the  path  of  unctuous  righteous- 
ness." 

The  paper  fluttered  to  the  ground  and  Gaunt  did  not 
move  for  a  few  moments,  but  there  was  a  curious  smile 
on  his  face.  Ahead  he  could  see  a  fight,  and  he  was 
ready  for  the  fray. 

There  was  a  knock  at  the  door,  and  he  turned  round 
to  see  Drake  enter  followed  by  a  tall  man  whose  tanned 
skin  spoke  of  long  residence  in  a  tropical  climate. 

"  This  is  my  brother  Lindsay,"  Drake  said  by  way  of 
introduction. 

"  I  am  grateful  for  your  invitation,  sir,"  Lindsay 
Drake  said,  "  and  gladly  accept  it.  It  will  enable  me  to 
see  so  much  more  of  my  brother." 

"  I  hope  you  will  make  yourself  at  home,"  Gaunt 
answered,  and  then  took  up  the  Daily  Comet  which  he 
handed  to  Edward  Drake.  "  Have  you  read  this  ?  "  he 
asked  quietly. 

Gaunt  went  to  a  cabinet  and  brought  out  a  box  of 
cigars,  which  he  handed  to  the  soldier. 

"  So  you  have  just  come  back  from  the  coast.  You 
are  looking  remarkably  fit,"  he  remarked  pleasantly. 


102  THE    VOW 


"  Yes.  I  got  back  this  morning.  My  brother  has 
been  telling  me  that  you  were  in  the  Congo  Free  State 
for  some  time.  A  pretty  wretched  country,  I  should 
think,  but  then,  no  part  of  West  Africa  is  very 
comfortable,"  Captain  Drake  answered,  with  a  frank 
smile. 

The  brothers  were  remarkably  alike  and  were  both 
eminently  clean-looking  men  whom  one  would  trust  and 
like  instinctively. 

"  A  dastardly  article,"  Edward  Drake  cried  indig- 
nantly, and  threw  down  the  paper.  "  What  is  the 
meaning  of  it  ?  The  Comet  is  generally  fair,  in  spite  of 
its  Yankee  methods." 

"  It  is  easily  explained,  but  I  shall  probably  shock 
you,  for  we  English  people  pride  ourselves  upon  the 
honesty  of  our  press.  And  we  are  not  far  wrong, 
although  they  have  played  the  game  of  the  Belgians  for 
years  past.  When  King  Leopold  was  alive  he  spent  a 
portion  of  his  revenue  from  the  Congo  in  subsidizing  the 
press.  In  the  United  States  he  was  more  successful 
than  in  this  country,  for  here  it  is  impossible  to  buy  the 
policy  of  a  newspaper.  That  is  in  cash  —  a  peerage  is 
not  considered  a  bribe.  So  the  King  went  to  work  in 
his  usual  diplomatic  way.  Although  the  papers  are  in- 
corruptible, their  correspondents  are  more  pliable.  Look 
back  and  you  will  remember  how  few  cables  have  come 
from  Belgium  relating  to  the  Congo,  and  the  reason  is 
not  far  to  seek.  Many  men  have  come  from  the  Congo 
with  a  sheaf  of  horrors  with  which  they  were  about  to 
startle  Europe  —  but  the  horrors  have  never  been  made 
public.  The  King  had  a  persuasive  tongue,  he  was  free 
with  his  money,  and,  voila  tout'' 


THE    VOW  103 


"  It  seems  incredible,"  Drake  cried  vehemently. 

"  But  it  is  none  the  less  true.  Read  Mark  Twain's 
famous  '  Soliloquy  of  King  Leopold.'  Never  has  such 
an  indictment  been  penned,  and  the  ways  of  the  Belgian 
press  bureau  are  proved  up  to  the  hilt.  Now  that  the 
King  is  dead  those  upon  whom  his  mantle  has  fallen  are 
pursuing  the  same  course.  Not  many  hours  will  pass 
before  they  will  turn  their  attention  to  me.  Every 
possible  means  will  be  tried  to  silence  me,  by  bribes,  and 
threats.  I  hope  this  doesn't  bore  you  ? "  Gaunt  said 
suddenly  turning  to  Captain  Drake. 

"  On  the  contrary  I  am  deeply  interested.  I  have 
had  some  experience  of  the  Belgian  swine  myself. 
Their  methods  are  even  worse  than  the  Germans  in 
Southwest  Africa,  and  their  methods  are  pretty  ghastly," 
the  latter  said  quietly. 

"  I  wonder  if  you  would  mind  taking  my  brother  into 
your  confidence.  I  mean,  with  reference  to  our  plans 
for  the  future,"  Edward  Drake  added  hastily,  when  he 
saw  a  frown  appear  on  Gaunt's  face. 

"  Not  at  all.  His  knowledge  of  West  Africa  may  be 
useful,"  Gaunt  answered  readily. 

For  the  moment  he  had  imagined  that  Drake  meant 
to  tell  the  captain  of  his  vow  and  he  had  a  great 
objection  to  any  one  having  knowledge  of  it. 

"  I  read  your  speech  when  I  was  coming  up  from 
Plymouth,  and  I  may  say  that  I  admire  you  for 
your  pluck,"  Captain  Drake  said  with  quiet  en- 
thusiasm. 

Gaunt  flushed  at  the  praise  for  he  felt  that  he  was  little 
deserving  of  it. 

"  I  am  prepared  to  enter  heart  and  soul  into  your 


104 THE    VOW 

plans,"  the  captain  continued ;  "  I  have  lived  among  the 
natives  and  have  always  found  them  decent.  I  am  not 
one  who  considers  the  nigger  but  little  better  than  the 
brute.  True,  their  intelligence  is  not  very  great,  but 
they  can  be  capable  of  great  loyalty  and  have  a  keen 
sense  of  gratitude.  There  isn't  a  better  fighting  man 
in  the  world  than  the  properly  trained  Haussa.  Will 
you  not  tell  me  something  of  your  intentions  ?  " 

Gaunt  rose  from  his  chair  and  an  expression  of  great 
gravity  came  into  his  face. 

"  Since  last  night,  many  schemes  have  come  into  my 
mind,  but  so  far  none  of  them  have  been  quite  feasible. 
I  think  it  is  a  hopeless  task  to  try  to  change  the  present 
conditions  in  the  Congo  by  peaceful  methods,  although 
it  is  my  intention  to  see  the  foreign  secretary  at  an 
early  date.  Should  he  fail  me,  as  I  fully  anticipate,  I 
have  wondered  if  it  would  not  be  possible  for  us  to  try 
force  ?  " 

"  What  do  you  mean  ? "  Edward  Drake  cried  ex- 
citedly. 

"  I  presume  that  you  would  consider  us  morally 
justified  if,  in  endeavoring  to  turn  the  Belgians  out 
of  the  Congo,  bloodshed  should  ensue?"  Gaunt  asked 
quietly. 

"  Please  explain  yourself,"  Edward  Drake  cried  in 
wonder. 

"  Perhaps  it  is  rather  a  mad  idea,  but  it  may  be 
practicable.  You  are  probably  aware  that  the  Belgians 
have  no  navy.  That  being  so  a  single  cruiser  would 
give  us  command  of  the  sea,  so  far  as  they  are  con- 
cerned. There  are  many  war-ships  nearing  completion 
in  the  British  dockyards  for  foreign  countries  —  princi- 


THE    VOW 105 

pally  for  the  South  American  Republics.  For  a 
financial  consideration  one  of  these  republics  might  be 
willing  to  lease  me  a  cruiser  for  a  few  months.  If  we 
could  safely  get  her  away  and  proceeded  to  the  mouth 
of  the  Congo,  we  should  be  masters  of  the  situation.  No 
rubber  could  leave  the  Free  State,  and  all  trade  would 
be  at  a  standstill.  Of  course,  we  couldn't  expect  to 
conquer  the  country  by  force,  for  we  shouldn't  have 
sufficient  men,  but  I  think  England  would  be  pretty 
certain  to  intervene  if  we  gave  her  the  lead." 

Edward  Drake  stared  at  Gaunt  in  utter  amaze- 
ment, for  he  was  astounded  at  the  audacity  of  the 
scheme. 

"  Yes.  By  Heaven !  I  will  go  back  to  the  Congo 
myself,"  Gaunt  said  with  grim  determination.  "  Now, 
Drake,  you're  my  conscience  and  what  have  you  to  say 
about  the  morality  of  the  idea  ?  You  must  remember 
that  the  mouth  of  the  Congo  is  fortified  and  fighting 
might  ensue." 

Edward  Drake's  face  was  ablaze  with  excitement  and 
his  likeness  to  his  brother  was  accentuated. 

"  I  think  that  any  means  would  be  justified  to  put  an 
end  to  this  abominable  traffic  in  human  lives,"  he  said 
with  great  earnestness. 

"  Mr.  Gaunt,  I'm  with  you  heart  and  soul,"  the  cap- 
tain said  gravely,  but  his  eyes  were  sparkling  with  ex- 
citement. 

"  It  is  a  big  thing  and  will  require  careful  considera- 
tion. Let  us  take  a  day  or  two  to  think  it  over,  and 
then  we  can  have  a  long  talk.  Captain  Drake,  I  am 
glad  that  you  are  with  us  for  I  think  that  you  can  be  of 
great  assistance.  Drake,  will  you  introduce  your  brother 


106  THE    VOW 

to  my  wife  and  Lady  Ethel  ?  You  will  find  them  up- 
stairs. I  am  going  into  the  City." 

The  brothers  stood  and  watched  him  leave  the  room. 

"  That's  a  man,"  Captain  Drake  said  with  quiet  enthu- 
siasm. 


CHAPTER  XIV 

IN  the  Palm  Garden  of  the  Carlton  Hotel  sat  a  party 
of  four,  two  of  whom  were  in  the  highest  spirits, 
while  the  faces  of  the  remaining  pair  were  ex- 
tremely grave. 

Lady  Mildred  was  next  to  Edward  Drake  and  they 
exchanged  but  few  remarks  while  Captain  Drake  and 
Lady  Ethel  were  amusing  themselves  by  exchanging 
critical  comments  upon  the  fashionable  crowd  who  were 
drinking  tea. 

"  You  are  very  silent,"  Edward  Drake  said  to  John 
Gaunt's  wife,  and  she  turned  her  eyes  full  upon  him. 

"  Is  it  true  that  my  husband  is  addressing  another 
meeting  to-night  about  the  Congo  ?  "  she  asked  in  a  low 
voice. 

"  Yes,  and  I  believe  that  he  contemplates  further  en- 
gagements," Drake  answered. 

"  It  is  evident  that  you  are  responsible  for  this  curious 
change  in  Mr.  Gaunt's  mode  of  life.  I  wonder  if  you 
have  considered  me  at  all.  You  must  know  that  since 
the  big  meeting  at  which  I  was  present  my  position  has 
not  altogether  been  a  pleasant  one.  Every  friend  and 
acquaintance  I  have  met  has  not  hesitated  to  show  their 
curiosity.  Cannot  you  give  me  some  explanation  why 
all  this  wretched  publicity  should  be  necessary  ? "  she 
asked  quietly. 

Lady  Mildred  had  agreed  to  accompany  her  sister 
solely  for  the  purpose  of  having  a  quiet  talk  with  Drake, 

107 


io8 THE    VOW 

but  as  yet  she  had  not  dared  to  ask  the  question,  the  an- 
swer to  which  she  dreaded  to  hear.  Ever  since  the  pre- 
vious afternoon  when  her  sister  had  told  her  what  she 
had  overheard  in  the  library,  her  mind  had  been 
strangely  perturbed.  Her  first  impulse  had  been  to  run 
to  her  husband  and  ask  if  it  were  true  that  he  was  going 
to  the  Congo,  but  an  unwonted  feeling  of  shyness  stayed 
her. 

"Surely  you  cannot  object  to  Mr.  Gaunt's  wish  to 
help  the  natives?  His  purpose  is  a  noble  one  and 
worthy  of  the  admiration  of  all  good  women,"  he  an- 
swered simply. 

"  I  have  never  pretended  to  be  a  good  woman,  Mr. 
Drake.  But  you  have  not  answered  my  question. 
Why  is  all  this  publicity  necessary  ?  "  she  persisted. 

Drake  did  not  reply,  and  she  smiled  faintly  when  she 
saw  that  all  his  attention  was  fixed  on  Lady  Ethel  and 
his  brother.  For  an  instant  he  was  off  his  guard,  and 
she  read  the  secret  which  he  had  not  dared  yet  to  admit 
to  himself. 

Edward  Drake  loved  the  young  girl  to  whose  face  ani- 
mation gave  an  additional  beauty.  And  he  was  thinking 
that  she  had  never  showed  to  him  the  evident  liking  she 
felt  for  his  brother.  As  he  watched  them  talking  ea- 
gerly it  seemed  to  him  that  they  might  have  been  friends 
for  years  and  he  uttered  a  faint  sigh. 

"  I  asked  you  a  question,"  Lady  Mildred  said  point- 
edly. 

"  I  really  beg  your  pardon.  I  fear  that  my  thoughts 
were  wandering,"  he  cried  hastily. 

"  Does  my  husband  intend  to  return  to  the  Congo  ?  " 
she  asked  and  her  voice  scarcely  rose  above  a  whisper. 


THE    VOW  109 


Drake  was  astonished  and  for  a  few  moments  did  not 
reply.  It  had  been  easy  to  guess  that  the  relations  be- 
tween Gaunt  and  his  wife  were  strained,  and  he  did  not 
know  how  far  the  millionaire  intended  to  give  Lady  Mil- 
dred his  confidence. 

"  Don't  you  think  that  you  should  ask  your  hus- 
band ?  "  he  suggested  quietly. 

The  reproach  was  delicately  veiled,  yet  it  was  none 
the  less  present,  and  she  was  quick  to  feel  it.  In  an  in- 
stant her  pride  was  in  arms  and  when  she  spoke  her 
voice  was  very  cold. 

"  I  will  do  so.  By  the  bye,  wouldn't  it  be  only  kind 
to  give  your  brother  a  hint  ?  Captain  Drake's  admiration 
is  so  very  open  —  and  Lady  Ethel  is  so  very  young,"  she 
added  quickly. 

If  her  intention  was  to  wound,  she  succeeded  only  too 
well,  for  Drake's  face  was  grimly  set.  It  was  revealed  to 
him  with  overwhelming  force  that  he  had  given  himself 
unreservedly  to  the  beautiful  girl  who  faced  him.  At 
the  moment,  a  reply  was  impossible,  and  he  struggled 
fiercely  to  give  no  sign  of  emotion,  for  he  was  conscious 
that  Lady  Mildred's  eyes  were  fixed  keenly  upon  him ; 
but  she  relented  very  quickly. 

"  Forgive  me,  Mr.  Drake.  I  should  not  have  said 
that.  I  really  do  not  know  what  is  the  matter  with  me 
this  afternoon,"  she  said  nervously. 

Still  Drake  did  not  speak,  and  he  turned  away  his  face 
from  her  eyes.  It  must  be  remembered  that  his  life  had 
been  untouched  by  the  influence  of  any  woman  save  his 
mother,  and  when  love  comes  to  such  a  one,  it  is  apt  to 
sweep  everything  before  it.  And  he  understood  that 
marriage  with  Lady  Ethel  was  an  impossibility.  Even 


no THE    VOW 

should  she  care  for  him  —  and  his  blood  tingled  at  the 
mere  idea  —  how  could  he  offer  himself  to  one  who  was 
accustomed  to  every  luxury  ?  His  total  income  would 
be  insufficient  to  provide  her  with  the  clothes  that  she 
wore  so  gracefully. 

Yes,  Lady  Mildred  was  right,  for  it  was  impossible  to 
mistake  the  look  that  was  in  his  brother's  eyes  —  a  look 
of  simple  adoration.  Those  who  spend  the  greater  part 
of  their  lives  in  savage  countries,  away  from  their  kind, 
lose  all  sense  of  the  conventionalities  which  bind  those 
who  stay  at  home.  For  twelve  months  Lindsay  Drake 
had  been  surrounded  by  black  faces  and  the  mere  sight 
of  Lady  Ethel's  fair  beauty  had  sent  him  headlong  to 
her  feet.  It  was  not  his  nature  to  conceal  his  feelings, 
and  she  knew  that  he  was  her  slave,  and  that  she  could 
do  with  him  as  she  willed.  Every  woman  must  take  a 
delight  in  the  knowledge  that  she  is  loved,  and  Lady 
Ethel  was  no  exception,  for  she  never  imagined  that 
there  could  be  any  harm  in  accepting  his  worship.  But 
suddenly  she  chanced  to  look  at  Edward  Drake,  and  all 
the  color  ebbed  from  her  face,  and  she  stopped  in  the 
middle  of  a  sentence. 

There  ensued  one  of  those  strange  silences,  in  which 
there  is  a  touch  of  constraint,  and  the  arrival  of  a  lady 
and  gentleman  at  the  next  table  was  a  welcome  interrup- 
tion. 

"  Yes.  I  was  at  the  meeting,  and  Gaunt's  speech  was 
the  most  dramatic  thing  that  I  ever  heard  in  my  life," 
the  man  was  saying. 

"  What  do  you  think  he  did  it  for  —  advertisement  ?  " 
his  companion  asked. 

"  No.     He  is  not  that  kind  of  man.     I've  met  him 


THE    VOW 111 

once  or  twice  and  have  found  him  a  most  attractive  per- 
sonality. In  fact  I  am  making  him  the  model  of  one  of 
the  characters  in  my  next  book.  Of  course  the  man's 
been  a  bit  of  a  blackguard." 

Edward  Drake  half  rose  from  his  chair  but  Lady 
Mildred  placed  her  hand  on  his  arm. 

"  Sit  down,  please.  It  is  well  to  hear  one's  neighbor's 
opinions,"  she  said,  and  he  realized  that  she  would  not  go. 

"  But  he  is  an  interesting  kind  of  blackguard.  If  he 
had  lived  a  few  hundred  years  ago,  he  would  have  been 
quite  a  moral  character.  Just  imagine  what  colossal 
impudence  a  man  must  possess  to  do  as  he  did.  Re- 
member that  he  was  as  bad  as  any  of  the  Belgians  in  the 
Congo.  He  coins  a  fortune  out  of  the  ill-treatment  of 
the  natives,  and  when  his  pockets  are  full  he  stands  up 
and  complacently  denounces  those  who  are  doing  as  he 
has  done." 

"  Why  do  you  think  that  he  spoke  if  not  for  adver- 
tisement ?  "  the  lady  asked  curiously. 

"  I  am  puzzled  to  find  a  reason.  He  spoke  with  such 
evident  sincerity  that  one  might  almost  imagine  that  he 
had  been  suddenly  —  what  the  Salvationists  term  — 
'  saved.'  Of  course  you  know  that  he  married  that  good- 
looking  woman,  Lady  Mildred  Blythe,  and  I  am  wonder- 
ing what  she  thinks  of  it  all.  Her  ladyship  is  not  the 
sort  of  person  to " 

"  Now  I  am  ready,"  Lady  Mildred  said  very  quietly, 
and  they  made  their  way  from  the  corner. 

Edward  Drake  gave  a  quick  look  at  the  speaker  from 
whom  they  had  been  hidden  by  a  group  of  palms,  and 
recognized  a  famous  novelist  who  was  quick  to  see  his 
indiscretion,  for  he  ceased  to  speak,  and  his  face  became 


112  THE    VOW 


deeply  flushed.  It  chanced  that  he  was  acquainted  by 
sight  with  Lady  Mildred  and  he  half  rose,  as  though  it 
was  his  intention  to  follow  and  apologize,  but  quickly 
subsided  into  his  seat  again. 

A  motor-car  was  in  waiting,  and  the  order  was  given 
to  return  to  Park  Lane,  but  to  all  of  them  the  drive  was 
unpleasant.  Lady  Mildred  stared  fixedly  through  the 
window  and  remained  silent  until  they  reached  home. 

"  I  am  going  to  talk  to  my  husband,  but  afterwards  I 
should  like  you  to  come  to  my  room,"  she  said  to 
Edward  Drake  and  he  bowed  in  reply. 

John  Gaunt  was  in  the  library  and  he  looked  up 
quickly  when  his  wife  entered  but  his  face  remained 
grave  as  he  stood  waiting  for  her  to  speak.  It  was  the 
first  time  they  had  met  since  their  interview  of  the 
previous  afternoon,  and  he  wondered  what  had  caused 
her  to  come. 

"  Won't  you  sit  down  ?  "  he  said  politely. 

In  the  intervening  hours  he  had  been  carefully  con- 
sidering his  attitude  towards  his  wife  and  had  determined 
to  make  no  advance  until  she  showed  him  plainly  that  it 
would  be  welcome  to  her. 

"  I  can  only  stay  a  minute.  We've  just  come  from  the 
Carlton.  They  say  that  listeners  never  hear  any  good  of 
themselves.  I've  listened  to  a  very  candid  opinion  about 
you,  and  I'm  a  little  upset.  John,  is  it  quite  necessary 
that  you  should  go  on  with  this  Congo  business? 
Couldn't  you  give  up  this  meeting  to-night  and  take  me 
out  to  dinner  ?  "  she  asked  nervously. 

He  looked  at  her  eagerly,  but  her  face  was  quickly 
turned  away,  and  he  sighed  a  sigh  of  utter  weariness. 

"  It  is  impossible.     I  must  keep  my  promise.     I  am 


THE    VOW  113 

sorry  that  you  have  heard  anything  unpleasant  and  hope 
the  memory  of  it  will  quickly  vanish.  I  have  made  up 
my  mind  to  do  all  that  is  in  my  power  to  help  the  natives 
of  the  Congo,  and  I  am  not  likely  to  turn  back.  I  must 
warn  you  that  the  fight  is  likely  to  be  a  severe  one,  and 
it  is  very  probable  that  I  shall  suffer,  for  my  opponents 
are  not  too  particular  in  their  methods.  If  you  are  to 
suffer  with  me,  I  am  deeply  sorry,  but  it  cannot  be 
helped,"  he  said  gently. 

"  I  wish  that  I  could  understand  you,"  she  said  timidly. 

"  I  wish  that  I  could  understand  myself,"  he  answered 
with  a  smile. 

He  moved  towards  the  door,  but  she  showed  no  sign 
of  going. 

"  Is  it  true  that  you  are  going  back  to  that  wretched 
country  ?  "  she  asked  desperately. 

John  Gaunt  was  surprised  at  the  question,  and  did  not 
answer  at  once. 

"  If  it  is  necessary,  I  shall  go.  But  why  do  you  ask  ? 
Has  Drake  said  anything  to  you  ?  "  he  exclaimed  suspi- 
ciously. 

"  Nothing.  Doesn't  it  strike  you  that  all  this  is 
rather  hard  upon  me  ?  Surely  a  wife  is  entitled  to  her 
husband's  confidence.  Ever  since  baby  was  born  you 
seem  to  have  changed  completely.  Why  does  Mr. 
Drake  live  with  us?  What  has  he  to  do  with  this 
change  ?  " 

It  was  impossible  for  him  to  answer  the  question  with- 
out revealing  everything,  and  he  was  quite  determined 
that  his  wife  should  not  know  of  the  vow  that  he  had 
made.  What  could  he  say  to  her  ? 

"  I  believe  that  he  is  a  good  man,  but  surely  it  is  not 


114  THE    VOW 

necessary  to  have  him  constantly  with  you  ?  "  she  con- 
tinued nervously. 

"  I  like  Drake,  and  I  am  greatly  indebted  to  him." 

"  Won't  you  give  orders  to  prepare  the  yacht  and  let 
us  go  away — just  you  and  I  —  for  a  long  voyage  ?  I 
think  I  could  be  very  happy  with  you  —  alone," 
she  said  in  a  low  voice,  but  her  eyes  were  full  of  appeal. 

"  I  should  like  nothing  better  in  the  world  but  I  can't 
do  it,"  he  answered  firmly,  but  he  was  struggling  fiercely 
-with  himself  to  subdue  the  mad  desire  to  take  her  in  his 
arms  and  cover  her  face  with  kisses. 

"  Very  well,"  she  answered  coldly,  and  left  him. 


CHAPTER  XV 

G AUNT'S  first  impulse  was  to  hasten  after  his 
wife  and  accept  the  proposal  she  had  made. 
There  could  be  no  doubt  that  she  had  offered 
him  all  that  he  was  struggling  to  obtain  —  her  love ;  and 
if  he  had  agreed  to  go  away  on  the  yacht,  they  might 
live  the  life  of  which  he  had  dreamed.  To  do  him  justice 
the  temptation,  though  strong,  was  but  momentary,  for 
he  quickly  remembered  that  to  leave  England  at  the 
present  moment  would  be  to  break  the  vow  that  he  had 
made. 

"  No.  I  will  win  her  and  yet  be  honest  to  myself,"  he 
said  grimly. 

The  fever  of  fighting  had  entered  into  his  blood,  and 
he  was  longing  to  come  to  close  quarters  with  the  enemy. 
In  fact  he  was  looking  forward  to  the  meeting  at  which 
he  was  to  be  the  chief  speaker,  and  was  determined  that 
he  would  not  mince  matters,  but  would  state  the  truth, 
brutally  and  forcibly. 

Lady  Mildred's  complaint  was  a  just  one,  for  blows 
would  be  dealt  unscrupulously  and  there  was  plenty  of 
ammunition  for  the  enemy  in  his  past.  It  was  quite 
clear  to  Gaunt  that  the  Congo  officials  in  Brussels  would 
show  no  mercy,  and  would  use  any  weapon  that  came  to 
hand ;  perhaps  it  was  this  knowledge  that  made  him 
eager  for  the  fray. 

The  love  of  a  fight  was  born  in  the  man,  and  his  eyes 
sparkled  as  he  thought  of  the  coming  contest.  For  the 


ii6  THE    VOW 

moment  the  vow  was  forgotten  and  ceased  to  be  the 
motive  that  guided  him. 

Gaunt  and  Edward  Drake  dined  alone,  and  the  latter 
spoke  but  little  during  the  meal. 

"  Did  Lady  Mildred  tell  you  of  an  unfortunate  occur- 
rence this  afternoon  ?  "  he  asked  at  last. 

"  She  mentioned  that  she  had  overheard  some  one  make 
remarks  about  myself  that  were  the  reverse  of  compli- 
mentary. Tell  me  the  details,"  Gaunt  said  with  a  smile, 
and  he  listened  quietly  to  Drake's  accurate  description 
of  what  had  happened. 

"  There  is  a  certain  amount  of  truth  in  what  the  man 
said,  but  I  can  imagine  that  my  wife  was  annoyed.  I 
fear  that  she  will  have  to  get  used  to  listening  to  much 
worse  things  than  that,"  Gaunt  answered  drily. 

"  It  is  a  pity.  Don't  you  think  she  might  go  abroad 
for  a  while  with  Lady  Ethel  ?  "  Drake  suggested  ner- 
vously. 

"  She  wouldn't  go  and  I  think  that  she  would  prefer  to 
be  in  England." 

"  By  the  bye,  she  asked  me  the  reason  of  the  recent 
change  in  you,  and " 

"  What  did  you  say  ? "  Gaunt  interrupted  him 
quickly. 

"  Nothing.  And  when  she  wanted  to  know  if  you 
were  going  to  the  Congo,  I  referred  her  to  you.  Don't 
you  think  it  would  be  as  well  to  give  Lady  Mildred  your 
entire  confidence  ?  I  can  see  that  things  are  not  quite 
right  between  you." 

"  Listen  to  me,  Drake.  If  we  are  to  remain  friends, 
that  is  a  subject  that  must  never  be  mentioned  between 
us.  I  may  not  be  able  to  manage  my  own  conscience, 


THE    VOW  117 

but,  by  Heaven,  I'll  manage  my  own  domestic  affairs," 
Gaunt  cried  warmly. 

"  Forgive  me.  It  was  not  from  any  desire  to  meddle 
that  I  spoke.  Gaunt,  I  like  you  and  I  like  Lady  Mil- 
dred. When  two  people  are  proud,  misunderstandings 
arise  easily,  and  I  thought  that  I  might  be  able  to  help 
you  both,"  Drake  said  gently. 

"  That's  all  right.  I  shouldn't  have  spoken  quite  so 
roughly,  but  I  think  you  understand.  We've  just  time 
for  a  smoke  before  we  start.  Come  into  the  library," 
Gaunt  said  and  placed  his  hand  on  Drake's  shoulder  with 
an  affectionate  touch. 

Their  characters  were  utterly  different,  and  yet  their 
mutual  liking  was  increasing  daily  as  their  knowledge  of 
one  another  grew. 

"  I've  been  thinking  over  that  '  cruiser '  idea,"  Gaunt 
began  when  they  had  lighted  their  cigars,  "  and  I'm  not 
at  all  sure  that  the  scheme  is  not  practicable  as  a  last 
resource.  I  intend  to  make  inquiries  at  once,  but  the 
difficulty  is  to  do  so  without  attracting  attention. 
Secrecy  is  essential  to  success." 

"  It  seems  to  me  that  there  is  a  greater  chance  of 
making  the  British  government  move  now  that  you  have 
started  to  work.  The  fact  that  you  are  fighting  for  the 
natives  gives  that  touch  of  romance  which  is  necessary 
to  rouse  the  public's  interest." 

"  There  is  not  much  romance  about  John  Gaunt.  Come 
along  or  we  shall  be  late." 

The  meeting  had  been  well  advertised,  and  Drake  was 
right  in  his  surmise  that  Gaunt's  personality  would 
attract  when  the  wrongs  of  the  natives  failed  to  do  so, 
for  the  large  hall  was  packed  from  floor  to  ceiling.  The 


n8  THE    VOW 

chairman  wasted  but  little  time  in  his  opening  remarks 
and  quickly  called  upon  Gaunt  to  speak. 

When  he  rose  to  his  feet  and  faced  them,  there  was 
the  same  look  of  defiance  on  his  face  that  had  been  there 
at  the  previous  meeting.  In  simple  language  he  began 
to  tell  them  of  his  experiences  on  the  Congo  and  there 
was  no  straining  after  effect,  but  soon  he  began  to  see 
that  their  attention  was  engrossed  by  his  words,  and  he 
spoke  with  more  feeling. 

There  are  many  men  in  the  world  who  are  born 
orators  and  yet  do  not  know  it,  and  such  a  man  was 
Gaunt  Until  a  few  days  ago  he  had  never  addressed  a 
public  meeting  in  his  life,  save  those  of  his  companies, 
so  he  had  had  no  opportunity  of  discovering  the  powers 
that  lay  dormant  in  him.  There  is  no  more  exhilarating 
feeling  than  that  of  the  speaker  who  holds  a  vast  multi- 
tude in  the  hollow  of  his  hand,  and  who  can  sway  them 
as  he  pleases,  to  laughter,  or  to  tears. 

And  a  great  hush  fell  upon  the  building  as  with 
graphic  touch  he  painted  the  terrible  torturings  of  a 
nation.  And  once  more  Gaunt  realized  the  baseness  of 
the  past  that  he  had  played  in  the  Congo,  so  that  when 
he  said  the  last  few  solemn  words  he  knew  himself  to  be 
what  he  really  was. 

There  was  no  applause,  only  a  painful  hush  when  he 
resumed  his  seat;  but  still  his  lips  moved,  and  only 
Drake  who  was  beside  him  could  catch  the  muttered 
words. 

"  By  Heaven,  I'll  undo  the  past." 

Then  he  chanced  to  look  among  the  crowd  and  saw 
an  elderly  gentleman  of  aristocratic  appearance  seated  a 
few  rows  from  the  front,  whose  overcoat  was  slightly 


THE    VOW  119 

open,  and  across  his  white  shirt  was  the  broad  ribbon  of 
an  order. 

"  So  the  Baron  has  arrived,"  Gaunt  remarked  under 
his  breath,  and  a  tense  look  came  into  his  eyes. 

As  soon  as  the  meeting  was  over,  they  returned  to 
Park  Lane  and  Drake  retired  to  his  room,  for  he  was 
very  tired.  Gaunt  put  on  a  smoking-jacket  and  settled 
down  comfortably  before  the  fire,  but  there  was  an  air  of 
expectation  on  his  face  and  it  was  not  very  long  before  a 
footman  entered  and  approached  his  master. 

"Baron  de  Croiseuil  wishes  to  see  you,  sir,"  he 
announced. 

"  Show  him  in  here,"  Gaunt  replied  and  then  rose  to 
his  feet  and  stood  facing  the  door  to  await  his  visitor. 

In  a  short  time  the  footman  returned  and  was  immedi- 
ately followed  by  the  gentleman  whom  Gaunt  had 
noticed  at  the  meeting. 

"  This  is  an  unexpected  pleasure,  Baron,"  Gaunt 
remarked  quietly. 

"  Not  quite  unexpected,  I  think.  May  I  sit  down,  for 
I  think  that  our  interview  is  likely  to  be  a  long  one  ?  " 

The  Baron  spoke  English  with  only  a  faint  trace  of  an 
accent,  but  his  manner  and  appearance  were  distinctly 
foreign.  Without  waiting  for  Gaunt  to  answer,  he 
moved  an  armchair  into  position  into  which  he  sank 
gracefully. 

"  May  I  smoke  ? "  he  said  as  he  produced  a  gold 
cigarette  case.  "  Eh  bien,  mon  ami,  I  listened  to  your 
speech  with  much  interest,  and  pray  allow  me  to 
congratulate  you  upon  your  eloquence,  but  the  subject 
matter  was  deplorable,"  the  Baron  said  quietly. 

"  I  do  not  think  that  your  visit  is  likely  to  do  any 


120 THE    VOW 

good.  Of  course  I  know  why  you  have  come  to 
England,"  Gaunt  answered  coldly. 

"  Yes,  it  is  easy  to  guess.  The  cabled  reports  of  your 
speech  the  other  night  seemed  incredible  and  so  I 
thought  it  better  to  run  over  to  find  out  the  truth  myself. 
Helas !  It  is  even  worse  than  we  had  imagined.  May 
I  ask  if  you  have  taken  leave  of  your  senses  ? "  the 
Baron  asked  suavely. 

"  Have  I  the  appearance  of  a  madman  ? "  Gaunt 
answered  with  a  harsh  laugh.  "  Baron,  you  and  I  know 
one  another  pretty  well,  and  it  is  better  that  we  should 
be  quite  frank.  I  suppose  that  I  am  the  only  man  in 
England  that  really  understands  the  little  game  that  you 
people  are  playing  in  the  Congo.  In  my  public  utter- 
ances I  have  definitely  stated  that  I  intend  to  concentrate 
all  my  energies  upon  defeating  you.  Do  you  under- 
stand ?  " 

"  Ah,  but  that  was  blague,  just  something  to  say  for  a 
little  reclame  for  yourself.  As  you  say,  we  know  one 
another,  and  I  am  quite  sure  that  you  are  not  the  man  to 
go  against  your  own  interests,  especially  those  of  a 
pecuniary  nature,"  the  Baron  said  smoothly. 

"  If  you  think  that,  then  I  am  afraid  that  you  do  not 
know  me.  I  am  perfectly  serious,  and  I  shall  not  rest 
until  your  regime  in  the  Congo  comes  to  an  end." 

"  Ah,"  the  Baron  ejaculated,  and  lapsed  into  silence. 

His  eyes  were  fixed  on  Gaunt's  face  and  he  studied 
him  keenly.  For  some  time  neither  of  them  spoke,  and 
at  last  the  Baron  threw  away  his  half  consumed  cigarette 
with  an  impatient  movement. 

"  It  is  a  thousand  pities,  for  I  like  you,  Gaunt.  I 
knew  you  as  a  young  man  and  was  one  of  the  first  to 


THE    VOW  121 

recognize    your   ability.     It   is   a   thousand   pities,"   he 
repeated  reflectively. 

Still  Gaunt  did  not  speak,  and  now  their  eyes  met,  the 
Baron's  cold  and  menacing. 

"  You  are  young  and  very  rash,"  he  continued  quietly, 
"  but  with  your  inside  knowledge  you  ought  to  recognize 
our  power.  Already  you  have  done  us  serious  injury, 
but  I  am  willing  to  forgive  that  if  you  will  promise  to 
remain  silent  in  the  future.  In  a  few  years  our  task  will 
be  accomplished,  and " 

"  In  a  few  years  —  when  you  have  drained  the  Congo 
dry  —  when  you  have  killed  off  the  people  in  thousands, 
and  when  the  whole  country  is  desolate.  Baron,  I 
understand  your  policy,  for,  as  you  say,  I  have  inside 
knowledge.  I  repeat  that  the  infamies  shall  cease," 
Gaunt  said  with  grim  determination. 

"  May  I  ask  if  this  is  blackmail?" 

Gaunt  jumped  to  his  feet  and  stood  over  the  Baron 
with  upraised  fist. 

"  Ah !  I  forgot  that  you  were  a  rich  man.  But  if 
that  is  not  your  motive,  may  I  ask  why  you  have  turned 
upon  those  who  were  once  your  friends?"  the  Baron 
asked  calmly,  and  he  did  not  appear  to  notice  Gaunt's 
attitude. 

,     "  I  think  you  had  better  go,"   Gaunt  said  in  a  low 
voice  that  was  tense  with  suppressed  anger. 

"  Not  until  we  come  to  an  understanding,  mon  ami ; 
I  am  going  to  stay  here  until  I  convince  you  that  you 
must  be  silent —  for  your  own  safety." 

Now  the  suavity  had  left  the  Baron's  voice  and  he 
spoke  sharply  as  he  took  a  collection  of  documents  from 
his  pocket. 


122 THE    VOW 

"  This  is  your  dossier,  which  contains  a  record  of  all 
your  actions  while  you  were  on  the  Congo.  We  often 
find  such  things  useful  in  dealing  with  people  who  take 
up  the  same  attitude  as  yourself.  Permit  me  to  remind 
you  of  a  few  incidents.  You  may  find  the  memory 
painful,  but  you  bring  it  on  yourself.  I  wonder  if  you 
remember  the  case  of  the  man  Marillier.  He  was  shot 

—  wasn't  he,  and  by ?  Ah !  You  have  turned  a 

little  pale.  We  have  a  long  memory  —  we  who  govern 
the  Congo.  Murder  is  a  crime  that  may  be  punished 
after  many  years.  Let  me  remind  you  of  the  whole 
history.  You  will  forgive  me  if  I  speak  at  some 
length." 

The  Baron  had  risen,  and  the  two  men  faced  one 
another. 

"Or  shall  I  remain  silent?  It  only  requires  your 
promise,"  the  Baron  continued  very  quietly  and  there 
was  a  smile  on  his  face. 

"  I  defy  you  ! "  Gaunt  cried  hoarsely. 

And  the  Baron  no  longer  smiled. 


CHAPTER  XVI 

IT  would  have  been  impossible  to  choose  a  more 
suitable  emissary  than  the  Baron  de  Croiseuil  for 
the  task  of  dealing  with  John  Gaunt,  for  he  was  an 
astute  diplomatist,  and  entirely  devoid  of  scruples.  Dur- 
ing the  last  few  years  there  had  grown  up  in  Belgium  a 
group  of  men  whose  prosperity  was  solely  due  to  the 
Congo.  Many  of  them  had  spent  varying  periods  of 
time  in  that  country,  and  had  returned  without  the  sense 
of  honor  which  they  may  once  have  possessed. 

When  Gaunt  first  went  to  West  Africa,  the  Baron  was 
a  high  official  of  the  Free  State,  and  he  was  mainly  re- 
sponsible for  the  carrying  out  of  the  late  King's  decree 
that  rubber  must  be  got,  and  that  the  method  of  obtain- 
ing it  need  not  be  considered.  It  was  a  congenial  task, 
for  as  he  made  money  for  his  master,  so  did  he  line  his 
own  pockets,  and  the  time  came  when  he  could  return  to 
Belgium  a  man  of  wealth,  and  covered  with  the  honors 
that  the  King  delighted  to  confer  upon  those  who  had 
succeeded  in  sending  to  him  the  millions  which  he 
needed  for  the  pursuit  of  his  life  of  vice. 

But  when  Baron  de  Croiseuil  arrived  home  he  was  not 
allowed  to  remain  idle  for  long,  and  his  services  were 
utilized  to  stifle  the  cry  for  reform  that  was  just  begin- 
ning to  be  heard  in  England,  and  the  United  States,  and 
right  well  did  he  carry  out  the  duties. 

The  death  of  the  King  had  come  at  an  opportune  mo- 

123 


124 THE    VOW 

ment,  for  it  would  give  the  Belgian  rule  of  the  Congo  a 
fresh  lease  of  life,  and  there  would  be  no  necessity  to 
change  their  methods,  for  it  would  be  a  simple  matter  to 
answer  criticisms  by  saying  that,  now  there  was  a  new 
king,  conditions  would  be  improved,  provided  that  time 
was  allowed  to  bring  about  the  necessary  reforms.  And 
all  the  time  there  was  no  intention  to  relax  the  rigor  of 
their  rule,  but  rather  to  force  the  natives  to  work  the 
harder,  so  that  the  harvest  might  be  garnered,  before 
Europe  awoke  to  the  fact  that  it  had  been  cleverly  hood- 
winked. 

All  was  peace  and  contentment  in  Brussels,  for  each 
ship  brought  its  increasing  cargo  of  rubber  and  the  de- 
mand for  reform  had  almost  ceased ;  until  the  big  meet- 
ing took  place  in  which  Gaunt  had  made  so  dramatic  an 
appearance. 

The  Baron  immediately  realized  the  seriousness  of  the 
situation,  for  naturally  the  words  of  a  man,  who  had  been 
one  of  the  first  to  exploit  the  Congo,  would  carry  great 
weight.  A  hurried  meeting  took  place  in  Brussels,  and 
as  a  consequence  De  Croiseuil  came  to  England  with  an 
entirely  free  hand,  and  practically  an  unlimited  purse. 

It  was  with  great  interest  that  he  had  attended  the 
meeting,  and  his  amazement  was  great  when  he  listened 
to  Gaunt's  speech. 

"  He  speaks  like  an  honest  man,"  had  been  his 
thought. 

And  so  he  had  entered  the  library  without  any  confi- 
dence that  he  could  succeed  in  influencing  John  Gaunt, 
but  he  was  determined  to  leave  no  stone  unturned. 

"  You  can  do  your  worst.  I  defy  you,"  Gaunt  re- 
peated harshly. 


THE    VOW  125 

There  was  an  evil  light  in  the  Baron's  eyes,  but  he 
spoke  calmly  and  slowly,  pronouncing  each  word  with 
great  distinctness. 

"  I  think  that  you  will  change  your  decision,  man  ami. 
If  not  for  your  own  sake,  for  your  wife's.  May  I  sug- 
gest that  you  do  not  enjoy  the  best  of  reputations  in 
your  own  country.  You  have  made  many  enemies,  who 
will  be  only  too  glad  to  seize  any  opportunity  of  doing 
you  an  injury,  and  there  are  many  vulnerable  places  in 
your  armor.  It  may  be  necessary  that  I  should  join 
hands  with  your  enemies,  and  one  in  particular.  By  a 
happy  chance  I  know  Mr.  Julian  Weiss ;  we  have  had 
business  deals  together,  and  he  is  a  man  who  never  for- 
gets an  injury.  Forgive  me,  Gaunt.  This  conversation 
is  extremely  unpleasant  to  me  personally,  and  I  would 
gladly  drop  it  if  you  would  only  say  one  little  word." 

"  I  have  given  you  my  answer,"  Gaunt  said  gravely. 

"  Still,  I  do  not  despair  of  making  you  change  your 
mind.  This  little  dossier  contains  other  details  of  your 
life  in  the  Congo.  Of  course  it  is  a  savage  country,  and 
one  doesn't  expect  our  domestic  fireside  morals  to  pre- 
vail, but " 

He  stopped  and  shrugged  his  shoulders  expressively, 
while  his  face  bore  a  deprecating  smile. 

"  Lady  Mildred  is  a  charming  woman,  and  I  am  proud 
to  number  her  among  my  acquaintances.  I  propose  to 
cultivate  my  acquaintanceship  with  her.  It  would  be 
deplorable  if  I  am  compelled  to  let  her  know  something 
of  the  kind  of  life  you  led  in  the  Free  State." 

Gaunt's  face  had  grown  very  white,  and  he  required 
all  his  strength  of  will  to  keep  back  a  flow  of  contemp- 
tuous words. 


126 THE    VOW 

"  My  patience  is  exhausted,  and  I  think " 

He  ceased  speaking  and  turned  round  quickly,  for  the 
door  had  opened. 

"  I  am  sorry  to  disturb  you.  I  thought  you  were 
alone,"  Edward  Drake,  for  it  was  he  who  entered,  said 
apologetically. 

"  Don't  go  away,  Drake,  for  I  should  like  to  introduce 
you  to  the  Baron  de  Croiseuil,  whose  name  you  probably 
know,"  John  said  quietly. 

The  Baron  bowed,  and  Drake  returned  the  salutation, 
but  his  manner  was  frigid,  for  he  was  only  too  well  ac- 
quainted with  the  part  that  this  smiling  Belgian  had 
played  in  the  Congo. 

"  The  Baron  has  come  to  England  to  try  and  silence 
me  and  he  has  told  me  pretty  plainly  what  the  conse- 
quences will  be  if  I  refuse  to  be  silenced,"  John  Gaunt 
said  grimly. 

"  I  think  it  would  be  wiser  that  our  business  should 
not  be  discussed  before  a  third  party.  This  gentleman 
has  the  air  of  a  priest,  and  I  will  leave  him  to  give  you 
good  advice.  Bon  soir,  messieurs'" 

He  bowed  very  politely,  and  walked  to  the  door. 

"  I  will  give  you  till  the  morning  for  consideration.  I 
am  staying  at  the  Ritz,  and  you  will  find  me  there  till 
midday." 

The  Baron  smiled  pleasantly,  and  it  was  not  until  he 
had  entered  the  motor-car  that  was  awaiting  him,  that 
he  permitted  the  mask  to  fall  from  his  face.  It  was  now 
evident  that  all  his  resources  would  be  needed  to  compel 
Gaunt  to  hold  his  tongue,  and  he  was  not  at  all  sure  that 
he  would  ultimately  succeed.  But  he  was  an  astute 
judge  of  human  nature,  and  rather  imagined  that  Gaunt's 


THE    VOW  127 

one  weak  spot  lay  on  his  wife,  and  so  he  determined  to 
turn  his  attention  to  Lady  Mildred. 

In  the  hall  of  the  Ritz  Hotel  he  found  a  gentleman 
waiting  him,  who  rose  to  greet  him. 

"  Good-evening,  Sherren.  I  am  sorry  to  be  late,  but 
it  was  unavoidable.  Will  you  come  up  to  my  sitting- 
room  ?  "  the  Baron  said  politely. 

Charles  Sherren  was  an  insignificant  little  man  who 
would  have  been  quite  unnoticeable  had  it  not  been  for 
his  eyes,  which  were  remarkably  intelligent.  Well 
known  in  Fleet  Street,  but  unattached  to  any  newspaper, 
he  was  reported  to  make  a  good  income,  for  he  had 
been  successful  in  one  or  two  brilliant  journalistic  coups, 
that  had  brought  him  into  prominence.  An  accom- 
plished linguist,  no  one  knew  his  real  nationality, 
although  many  called  him  a  Jew,  a  statement  which  he 
vigorously  resented,  in  spite  of  his  rather  Semitic  type  of 
features. 

To  the  Baron  he  had  always  proved  a  reliable  tool, 
and  had  carried  out  the  delicate  instructions  he  was 
wont  to  receive  with  great  skill.  Sherren  was  respon- 
sible for  the  many  reassuring  statements  that  had 
appeared  in  the  papers  concerning  the  state  of  affairs  in 
the  Congo,  and  it  was  owing  to  his  adroitness  that 
editors  had  never  suspected  that  their  papers  were  being 
used  by  the  Congo  Press  Bureau.  In  fact  his  name  had 
never  been  publicly  connected  with  the  Free  State,  and 
on  that  account  his  services  were  likely  to  prove  of  all 
the  greater  value. 

"  I  have  just  come  from  Gaunt,"  the  Baron  remarked, 
when  they  were  seated  in  his  room. 

"  Were  you  successful?"  Sherren  asked  eagerly. 


128  THE    VOW 


"  Quite  the  reverse,  and  now  I  shall  require  you  to 
carry  out  my  little  programme.  As  a  matter  of  fact  I 
have  given  him  till  twelve  o'clock  to-morrow  to  climb 
down,  but  I  have  little  hope  that  he  will  do  so.  I  want 
you  to  understand  that  this  man  must  be  crushed  at  once, 
for  he  is  doing  us  incalculable  harm.  It  requires  but  an 
entente  between  England  and  Germany  to  cause  the 
Powers  to  intervene.  In  spite  of  all  our  efforts,  reports 
continue  to  come  from  the  Congo,  and  if  this  campaign 
is  continued,  the  British  people  may  take  it  into  their 
stupid  heads  to  run  riot  as  they  did  in  the  case  of  the 
Armenian  atrocities.  It  needs  but  another  Gladstone  to 
rouse  them,  and  this  man  Gaunt  is  a  born  orator.  In 
fact  I  must  admit  that  I  myself  was  rather  moved  by 
what  he  said  to-night,"  the  Baron  wound  up  cynically. 

"  I  cannot  rush  the  matter.  It  is  a  difficult  business 
to  use  the  newspapers  for  private  interests,  and  the 
greatest  tact  is  necessary.  Fortunately  for  us,  Gaunt's 
financial  reputation  is  none  of  the  best,  and  I  know  one 
or  two  people  who  are  anxious  to  get  at  him,"  Sherren 
said  reflectively. 

"  Particularly  Julian  Weiss/'  the  Baron  said  signifi- 
cantly. 

"  Yes,  over  their  Amanti  deal.  But  unfortunately 
Weiss  is  equally  involved  with  Gaunt.  In  fact  I  think 
that  he  was  the  prime  mover  in  the  swindle.  The  man 
who  forged  the  cable  is  on  his  way  back  to  England, 
and  arrives  in  a  day  or  two.  I  will  see  him,  and  it  may 
be  possible  to  bring  the  matter  up." 

"  There  is  no  necessity  to  do  that.  It  will  be  sufficient 
to  place  me  in  a  position  to  threaten  Gaunt.  I  only 
want  the  evidence,"  De  Croiseuil  said  quickly. 


THE    VOW  129 


•«  I  will  do  my  best  to  get  it,  but  it  may  prove  costly." 

"Carte  blanche  I'  the  Baron  replied  laconically. 

"  That  will  certainly  make  things  easier.  But  I  fear 
that  you  have  a  difficult  task  before  you,  for  Gaunt  is 
the  very  devil.  I  know,  for  I  tried  a  little  bout  with 
him  once  upon  a  time  and  I  came  off  second  best," 
Sherren  remarked  with  a  rueful  smile. 

"  Yes,  he  is  a  strong  man,  but  so  am  I." 

"  May  I  ask  what  you  intend  to  do  if  threats  are  of  no 
avail  ?  " 

"  Carry  out  the  threats  and  blacken  his  character  in 
every  way,  for  that  will  naturally  discount  the  value  of 
what  he  says.  The  public  are  not  yet  convinced  that 
the  man  is  honest  in  what  he  is  doing."  The  Baron 
paused  for  a  moment,  and  then  continued  reflectively, 
"  I  wonder  if  it  would  be  possible  to  accuse  him  of 
blackmail.  It  might  be  believed  that  he  was  taking  this 
line  to  force  money  out  of  us." 

"  But  Gaunt  is  a  millionaire,  and  such  a  charge  would 
rebound  upon  yourself." 

"  I  see  what  you  mean,  and  it  is  a  card  that  I  must 
keep  in  reserve  for  it  is  a  risky  one  to  play.  By  the  bye, 
have  you  any  idea  of  the  relations  which  exist  between 
Gaunt  and  his  wife?  What  does  gossip  say?"  the 
Baron  asked  casually. 

"  That  she  married  him  for  his  money.  As  to  Gaunt, 
I  have  heard  that  he  acted  like  a  madman  when  it  was 
thought  that  his  wife  would  die.  I  can't  tell  you  more 
than  that." 

"  Lady  Mildred  gave  me  the  impression  of  being  a 
very  proud  woman.  I  wonder  if  she  has  much  influence 
with  her  husband  ?  " 


130  THE    VOW 

"  It  is  hard  to  say,"  Sherren  said  doubtfully. 

"  But  I  should  imagine  that  she  would  loathe  the  idea 
of  any  scandal.  And  he  is  in  love  with  her,  you  say? 
Well,  I  cannot  decry  his  taste,  for  she  is  very  beautiful, 
but  cold  —  cold.  Ah,  these  English  women,  I  can't 
understand  them.  To  be  loved  by  them  is  bliss,  but  to 
love  —  that  is  another  matter." 

And  the  Baron  was  supposed  to  have  a  very  complete 
knowledge  of  the  feminine  sex,  if  rumor  spoke  truly. 
He  sighed  wearily  as  he  lighted  another  cigarette. 

"  Start  work  on  the  lines  I  have  suggested,  and  come 
to  see  me  to-morrow  night.  Until  then  you  are  to  do 
nothing  definite.  Good-night." 

Sherren  held  out  his  hand  which  the  Baron  took  for 
just  a  moment,  and  then  left. 

"  The  man  is  a  little  reptile  but  he  is  useful,"  De  Croi- 
seuil  remarked,  and  then  he  took  a  handkerchief  from 
his  pocket  with  which  he  carefully  wiped  the  hand  that 
had  touched  Sherren. 

"  I  wonder  what  is  Gaunt's  motive  ? "  he  said  aloud, 
and  when  he  fell  asleept  he  had  found  no  answer  to  the 
question. 


CHAPTER  XVII 

LUNCH  had  been  served  in  Lady  Mildred's  own 
sitting-room,  for  she  was  reluctant  to  meet  her 
husband  until  she  saw  her  way  more  clearly. 
It  was  an  unusual  state  of  mind,  this  indecision  and  rapid 
change  of  feeling,  for  at  one  moment  she  felt  that  the 
only  thing  that  mattered  was  the  love  of  her  husband, 
and  then  she  would  remember  that  terrible  evening  of 
the  Congo  meeting,  when  he  had  spoken  words  that  had 
caused  her  to  turn  from  him  with  loathing. 

From  the  day  of  their  engagement  she  had  realized 
that  there  were  hidden  depths  in  his  character,  and  often 
she  was  conscious  of  a  fear  of  him  that  disturbed  her 
strangely.  That  morning  she  had  read  in  the  paper  an 
account  of  the  speech  which  he  had  made  on  the  previ- 
ous evening,  and  it  was  evident  that  he  was  in  deadly 
earnest  in  his  intention  to  continue  the  crusade.  And 
had  she  not  encouraged  him  ?  Yes,  and  almost  imme- 
diately afterwards  implored  him  to  give  it  up  and  take 
her  away  in  the  yacht.  His  motive  perplexed  her ;  it 
was  difficult  to  imagine  that  his  whole  character  could 
have  been  revolutionized  so  suddenly. 

"  I  believe  it  is  through  the  influence  of  Mr.  Drake, 
and  I  hate  him  for  it,"  she  said  vindictively. 

Her  reverie  was  disturbed  by  the  entrance  of  her  sister. 

"  John  wants  to  know  if  you  are  unwell,"  Lady  Ethel 
stated  and  sat  down  although  she  saw  that  her  presence 
was  unwelcome. 


132 THE    VOW  

"  I  am  not  ill,  but  I  wished  to  be  alone,"  Lady  Mil- 
dred answered  coldly. 

She  was  conscious  that  her  sister  was  regarding  her 
with  a  curious  direct  look,  and  the  color  came  to  her 
cheeks. 

"  Does  that  remark  apply  to  me  ?  If  so  I  will  go,  for 
Captain  Drake  wants  me  to  play  a  game  of  billiards," 
Lady  Ethel  answered  quietly. 

"  You  may  stay,"  was  the  impatient  answer. 

"  Thank  you ;  and  now  I  will  exercise  a  sisterly  privi- 
lege and  give  you  a  little  plain  talk.  I  am  growing  very 
fond  of  John,  and  I  must  confess  that  I  am  rather  sorry 
for  him.  It  appears  to  me  that  you  are  playing  rather  a 
dangerous  game  with  him.  The  poor  man  is  madly  in 
love  with  you,  but  I  think  that  he  has  just  about  reached 
the  end  of  his  patience.  I  wonder  if  you  would  mind 
telling  me  if  you  really  care  for  him  —  or " 

"  I  think  that  is  rather  beyond  even  a  sisterly  privi- 
lege," Lady  Mildred  answered  distantly.  "  Wouldn't  it 
be  wiser  to  pay  a  little  more  attention  to  your  own  af- 
fairs, and  leave  me  to  manage  my  own  ?  There  are  two 
men  who  are  madly  in  love  with  you,  and  you  flirt  with 
them  outrageously.  Yet  you  tell  me  that  I  am  playing 
a  dangerous  game." 

"  I  suppose  you  mean  Mr.  Drake  and  his  brother  ?  " 
Lady  Ethel  replied  calmly.  "  I  quite  admit  that  I  have 
flirted  with  Captain  Drake,  but  as  to  the  parson ' 

"Well?" 

"  Parsons  aren't  exactly  in  my  line,"  she  continued 
recklessly.  "  I  think  Captain  Drake  is  charming,  so  re- 
freshing after  all  the  stupid  people  that  one  meets  every 
day." 


THE    VOW  133 


"  Doubtless  he  is  charming,  but  very  poor." 

"  And  what  of  that  ?  "  Lady  Ethel  asked  defiantly. 

"  Nothing,  unless  you  mean  to  marry  him.  You  are 
like  myself,  hardly  the  kind  of  woman  to  live  in  com- 
parative poverty.  Of  course  John  would  make  a  good 
settlement,  when  you " 

"  John  can  wait  till  he  is  asked.  I  certainly  should 
never  think  of  accepting  anything  from  a  man  who  is 
being  treated  so  badly  by  my  sister." 

"  Ethel,  you  are  impertinent,"  Lady  Mildred  replied 
angrily. 

"  Perhaps  so,  but  I  was  only  paying  you  back  in  your 
own  coin.  But  don't  let  us  quarrel,  dear.  I  can  see  that 
John  is  utterly  miserable,  and  you  don't  strike  me  as 
being  a  very  happy  woman.  Ah,  here  is  «  King  Baby.' 
Give  him  to  me,  nurse,"  Lady  Ethel  cried  eagerly  and 
held  out  her  arms. 

The  nurse  retired,  and  Lady  Mildred  watched  her 
sister  as  she  held  the  child  in  her  arms,  crooning  the 
while  a  lullaby. 

"  Mildred,  you  ought  to  be  the  happiest  woman  in  the 
world.  You've  a  husband  who  adores  you,  and  this 
mite  of  humanity.  I  would  give  my  soul  to  have  such  a 
wee  little  thing  clutching  at  me  and  knowing  that  it  was 
mine,"  Lady  Ethel  said  impulsively. 

"  You  are  right,  dear.  I  ought  to  be  happy,  yet  I  am 
utterly  miserable.  Give  me  the  baby." 

And  if  the  fashionable  world  could  have  seen  Lady 
Mildred  take  the  child  in  her  arms  with  the  love-light  of 
a  mother  in  her  eyes,  they  would  have  wondered  greatly. 

Tears  glistened  on  her  lashes,  and  her  bosom  rose  and 
fell  quickly.  She  was  crying  quietly  and  could  have 


134  THE    VOW 

given  no  reason  why  she  wept,  for  knowledge  had  not 
yet  come.  But  Lady  Ethel  knew,  and  would  have 
spoken  but  instinct  bade  her  keep  silent ;  so  she  crossed 
over,  and  gently  kissed  her  sister. 

"  Let  us  send  for  nurse  to  take  baby  and  we  will  go 
down-stairs.  They  are  all  in  the  library,"  she  said  gently, 
and  Lady  Mildred  did  not  resist. 

They  walked  arm  in  arm  down  the  broad  staircase, 
and  Lady  Ethel  whispered  earnestly. 

"  Dearest,  be  yourself  to  John.  Let  him  see  what  is 
in  your  heart  and  all  will  be  right.  I  am  much  younger 
than  you,  but  I  think  that  I  am  wiser ;  for  I  have  learned 
that  there  is  only  one  thing  in  the  world  that  matters  — 
love,"  she  said  softly. 

"  Do  you  care  for  Captain  Drake  ?  " 

But  Lady  Ethel  only  smiled,  yet  there  was  a  flush  on 
her  face  when  they  entered  the  library. 

"  Where  is  Mr.  Gaunt  ?  "  she  asked  quickly. 

"  He  has  gone  into  the  City  and  won't  be  back  until 
dinner  time,"  Edward  Drake  answered. 

"  Won't  you  come  and  play  the  promised  game  of 
billiards  ?  "  his  brother  asked  eagerly. 

"  Yes,  and  Mr.  Drake  can  mark  for  us.  Come  along, 
Mildred,"  Lady  Ethel  cried  peremptorily,  and  her  sister 
followed  obediently. 

And  the  room  rang  with  merry  laughter,  but  Edward 
Drake  was  very  quiet,  only  now  and  then  exchanging  a 
remark  with  Lady  Mildred.  He  watched  his  brother 
and  Lady  Ethel,  and  it  seemed  to  him  that  they  might 
have  been  made  for  one  another,  with  their  good  looks 
and  high  spirits.  Yes,  there  was  jealousy  in  his  heart, 
but  he  had  thrust  it  down  with  all  his  strength,  and 


THE    VOW  135 


believed  that  he  would  rejoice  in  his  brother's  happiness. 
Not  for  a  moment  did  he  imagine  that  this  happy  girl 
could  so  encourage  Lindsay's  attentions  if  she  did  not 
care  for  him.  Unworldly,  it  did  not  occur  to  him  that 
lack  of  money  might  prove  to  be  an  unsurmountable 
obstacle  to  their  marriage.  Their  family  was  as  good  as 
any  in  the  land — sound  stock,  descending  from  the 
Francis  Drake  that  had  made  the  land  ring  with  his  fame 
in  the  days  of  the  Armada. 

And  yet  he  loved  Lady  Ethel  with  all  the  strength  and 
passion  of  the  reserved  man  who  conceals  his  feelings. 
A  faint  sigh  escaped  him,  and  Lady  Mildred  looked  up ; 
but  she  made  no  remark  when  she  saw  the  expression  in 
his  eyes  as  they  eagerly  followed  her  sister. 

A  footman  entered  and  approached  Lady  Mildred. 

"  Baron  de  Croiseuil  wishes  to  see  your  ladyship,"  he 
announced. 

Lady  Mildred  uttered  an  exclamation  of  surprise  as 
she  rose  from  her  seat. 

"  I  did  not  know  that  he  was  in  England.  I  wonder 
what  he  wants  ?  Take  him  to  the  drawing-room,  James," 
she  said  and  walked  towards  the  door. 

But  Edward  Drake  interrupted  her  quickly. 

"  Please  let  me  see  the  Baron  for  you,"  he  said  nervously. 

She  stared  at  him  in  astonishment,  for  she  deemed  his 
request  an  impertinence. 

"  I  will  see  him  myself.  Some  time  ago  I  knew  him 
rather  well,"  she  answered  coldly. 

"  Please  let  me  see  him,  Lady  Mildred.  Perhaps  I  can 
guess  why  he  has  come  and " 

"  Pray  finish  what  you  have  to  say,"  she  cried  when  he 
hesitated. 


136  THE    VOW 

"  And  I  think  that  it  would  be  wiser  if  I  went  to  him. 
I  speak  as  your  husband's  friend,"  he  cried  imploringly. 

"  You  speak  very  strangely,  Mr.  Drake.  Please  let 
me  pass." 

He  realized  that  it  was  useless  to  insist  further,  and 
uttering  an  exclamation  of  disappointment,  drew  back. 
If  Edward  Drake  had  had  a  greater  knowledge  of  the 
feminine  character,  he  would  have  understood  that  he  had 
taken  the  very  course  to  make  Lady  Mildred  see  the 
Baron,  for  he  had  succeeded  in  arousing  her  curiosity. 

The  Baron  was  already  in  the  drawing-room,  and 
hastened  forward  to  greet  her,  a  pleasant  smile  on  his 
face. 

"  It  is  a  pleasure  to  meet  you  once  more,  Lady 
Mildred.  It  has  always  been  a  great  regret  that  I  was 
not  able  to  be  present  at  your  marriage,  especially  as  Mr. 
Gaunt  was  once  a  great  friend  of  mine,"  he  said  effusively. 

"  I  was  not  aware  of  the  friendship,"  she  answered 
quietly. 

"  Yes.  In  the  days  when  we  were  in  the  Congo.  In 
fact,  I  was  one  of  the  first  to  meet  your  husband  when 
he  arrived,  and  I  think  I  helped  him  to  success." 

"  My  husband  does  not  talk  much  to  me  about  those 
days." 

"  It  is  a  pity  that  he  does  not  carry  out  the  same 
rule  with  regard  to  the  rest  of  the  world.  Of  course  you 
know  of  these  speeches  he  has  been  making?"  the  Baron 
remarked  casually. 

"  I  was  present  at  the  first  of  them.  Now  I  think  I 
understand  the  reason  of  your  call.  It  was  not  entirely 
for  the  pleasure  of  seeing  me,"  she  said  quickly. 

"  You   are  right,  Lady   Mildred,  but   it   was   from  a 


THE    VOW 137 

friendly  feeling  towards  yourself.  I  have  very  pleasant 
recollections  of  our  former  friendship." 

"  Our  relations  scarcely  amounted  to  friendship,"  she 
interrupted  him. 

"  That  is  an  unkind  remark,  but  I  forgive  it.  Still,  my 
feelings  towards  you  are  those  of  a  friend.  Helas! 
they  would  have  been  different  had  I  been  a  younger 
man." 

She  flushed  angrily,  for  compliments  she  detested,  but 
she  remained  silent. 

"  I  have  called  to  see  if  it  is  not  possible  to  prevent  a 
state  of  affairs  from  arising  that  will  be  extremely  dis- 
tasteful to  you." 

"  You  are  very  kind.     But  please  explain." 

"  You  know  that  my  interests  are  closely  bound  up 
with  the  Congo  ?  The  speeches  that  your  husband  is 
making  are  injuring  my  interests,  and  they  must  stop 
immediately.  If  they  do  not,  I  fear  that  Mr.  Gaunt  and 
incidentally  yourself  will  suffer.  I  implore  you  to  use 
all  your  influence  with  him,  Lady  Mildred,"  he  said 
earnestly. 

"  In  what  way  will  my  husband  suffer  ?  "  she  asked 
calmly,  but  there  was  an  angry  light  in  her  eyes  that  he 
did  not  perceive. 

"  It  is  a  delicate  matter,  and  I  hate  even  to  hint  at  it ; 
but  it  is  for  your  sake,  and  I  will  only  say  that  there  are 
many  things  in  your  husband's  past  that  will  not  bear 
the  light  of  day.  For  my  part  I  should  do  my  best  to 
keep  them  secret,  but  unfortunately  there  are  others." 

Again  that  expressive  shrug  of  the  shoulders. 

Lady  Mildred  crossed  the  room  and  pressed  the  button 
of  the  bell. 


138  THE    VOW 


"  It  is  for  your  sake,  Lady  Mildred,  and " 

The  footman  came  in  and  Lady  Mildred  turned  to 
him. 

"  Please  show  this  gentleman  from  the  house,  and  in 
the  future  I  am  not  at  home  to  him." 

As  she  spoke  she  moved  away,  and  her  face  was  elo- 
quent of  contempt. 

The  Baron  hesitated  and  then,  with  a  final  shrug,  left 
the  room  without  saying  another  word,  for  he  recognized 
that  he  was  defeated. 


CHAPTER  XVIII 

IT  was  with  a  feeling  of  great  anxiety  that  Edward 
Drake  saw  Lady  Mildred  leave  the  billiard  room  to 
go  to  Baron  de  Croiseuil,  for  he  quickly  guessed 
the  reason  of  the  Belgian's  visit.  Although  Gaunt  had 
not  gone  into  details  it  was  evident  from  what  he  had 
said  that  there  was  much  in  his  Congo  past  that  he  would 
not  care  to  have  reach  his  wife's  ears.  By  all  accounts  the 
Baron  was  a  most  unscrupulous  adversary,  and  would  not 
hesitate  to  use  the  knowledge  that  he  possessed. 

After  a  few  moments'  thought,  Drake  hastened  to  the 
telephone  and  got  into  communication  with  the  city 
office,  only  to  find  that  Gaunt  was  not  there. 

"  Please  ask  him  to  come  to  Park  Lane  as  soon  as  he 
returns,"  Drake  said  to  Foster  the  secretary,  and  then 
went  back  to  the  billiard  room. 

Lady  Ethel  was  idly  knocking  about  the  billiard  balls, 
and  she  did  not  look  up  when  he  entered. 

"  Where  is  my  brother  ?  "  he  asked. 

"  He  suddenly  remembered  that  he  had  an  appointment 
at  the  war  office,"  she  answered,  as  she  deftly  made  a 
cannon.  "  This  is  a  good  chance  for  the  lesson  I  prom- 
ised to  give  you,"  she  said  demurely. 

Drake  went  to  the  rack  from  which  he  took  the  first 
cue  that  came  to  hand. 

"  I  am  afraid  that  you  will  find  me  rather  a  duffer,"  he 
remarked. 

"  Your  education  has  been  neglected  —  in  many  ways." 


140 THE    VOW 

Then  she  gave  him  a  quick  look  which  he  failed  to  catch. 
"  You  may  break." 

But  Drake's  hand  trembled,  and  he  made  a  miscue. 

"  Try  again,"  she  said  lightly,  and  placed  the  ball  back 
in  balk. 

Again  he  tried  to  make  the  shot,  with  a  similar  result. 

"  It  is  no  use,  I  am  an  awful  duffer,"  he  said  apologetic- 
ally. 

She  watched  him  as  he  replaced  the  cue  in  the  rack, 
and  her  eyes  twinkled  with  mischief. 

"  You  are  very  easily  discouraged.  I  thought  better 
things  of  you,  Mr.  Drake,"  she  said  with  a  laugh,  but 
suddenly  her  face  became  grave  and  she  approached 
more  closely  to  him.  "  Would  you  mind  telling  me  why 
you  did  not  wish  my  sister  to  see  the  Baron  de  Croi- 
seuil?" 

Drake  knew  not  what  to  say,  for  he  could  not  tell  her 
the  real  reason. 

"  I  do  not  ask  merely  from  curiosity.  I  am  not  quite 
a  fool,  although  you  may  think  that  my  intelligence 
is  below  the  average,  and  I  am  not  blind  to  what  is  going 
on.  It  seems  to  me  that  my  sister  and  her  husband  are 
drifting  apart  and  that  you  know  the  reason  of  it,"  she 
said  with  unusual  seriousness. 

Still  he  did  not  answer,  and  she  grew  impatient. 

"Am  I  not  right?  Mr.  Gaunt  has  changed  in  a 
marvellous  way  since  he  has  known  you  —  and  I  wish 
you  to  take  me  into  your  confidence." 

"  I  can't  do  so,  Lady  Ethel.  I  shall  be  grateful  if  you 
will  change  the  subject.  All  I  can  say  is  that  I  will  spare 
no  effort  to  prevent  any  disagreement  between  Mr.  Gaunt 
and  his  wife.  But  there  are  great  issues  at  stake,  and 


THE    VOW 141 

Lady  Mildred  must  not  be  the  only  consideration,"  he 
said  earnestly. 

"  No  issue  can  be  so  great  as  my  sister's  happiness," 
she  answered  impetuously. 

"  I  do  not  agree  with  you,  Lady  Ethel.  Please  don't 
say  any  more,"  he  said  appealingly. 

"  I  won't  for  the  present,  but  I  am  disappointed  in 
you.  Your  brother  would  not  have  answered  as  you 
have  done." 

His  face  flushed,  and  he  took  a  step  towards  her.  Her 
eyes  regarded  him  steadily,  and  their  expression  contained 
a  hint  of  defiance. 

"  My  brother  would  only  do  what  is  consistent  with 
honor,"  he  answered  with  quiet  dignity. 

A  silence  followed,  and  both  were  conscious  of  a  feel- 
ing of  nervousness.  Edward  Drake  came  to  a  sudden 
decision,  and  spoke  impulsively. 

"  My  brother  is  the  only  relative  that  I  have  in  the 
world,  and  we  are  more  than  brothers,  for  we  are  friends. 
Lindsay  is  as  generous-hearted  a  man  as  ever  breathed, 
and  I  have  never  known  him  guilty  of  a  mean  action. 
Lady  Ethel,  he  is  very  dear  to  me,  and  I  should  grieve 
to  see  him  hurt.  Perhaps  I  ought  not  to  speak  to  you 
in  this  way,  but  I  think  that  you  understand  what  I 
mean.  For  some  years  he  has  lived  among  savages,  and 
the  life  there  has  made  him  forget  many  things.  Dur- 
ing these  last  few  days  he  has  only  remembered  that  he 
is  a  man,  and  you  a  woman.  Your  beauty  has  blinded 
him  to  the  fact  that  he  is  a  poverty-stricken  soldier, 
while  you  are  a  lady  of  title,  who " 

While  he  spoke  the  color  had  left  her  cheeks,  and  she 
interrupted  him  peremptorily. 


THE    VOW 


"  Don't  you  think  that  you  might  allow  your  brother  to 
speak  for  himself?  You  parsons  imagine  that  it  is  your 
prerogative  to  meddle  in  affairs  that  do  not  in  the  least 
concern  you." 

"  My  brother's  happiness  concerns  me  greatly,"  he  said 
quietly. 

"  Isn't  he  old  enough  to  look  after  himself?  You  are  a 
strange  man,  Mr.  Drake,  and  just  a  little  bit  impertinent, 
Of  course,  I  use  the  word  in  its  classical  sense,"  she  added 
hastily. 

He  smiled,  but  it  was  a  sad  smile,  and  she  relented 
immediately. 

"  I  don't  think  you  need  be  troubled  about  your  broth- 
er's happiness,"  she  said  gently. 

"  You  mean  ?  " 

As  he  asked  the  question  he  was  conscious  of  a  fierce 
pain  tugging  at  his  heart,  for  he  dreaded  to  hear  her 
answer. 

"  I  mean  —  nothing,"  she  cried  gaily. 

The  door  was  thrown  open  and  Gaunt  strode  in, 
putting  an  end  to  the  conversation. 

"  I  got  your  message.  What  is  it  ?  "  he  asked  quickly 
of  Drake. 

The  latter  glanced  significantly  at  Lady  Ethel  who 
understood  his  meaning. 

"  I  will  relieve  you  of  my  presence,  and  I  hope  that 
I  have  completely  reassured  you." 

The  last  sentence  was  addressed  to  Drake,  and  was 
spoken  so  mockingly  that  he  winced,  and  the  color  came 
to  his  cheeks. 

"  What's  the  matter  ?  "  Gaunt  demanded  as  soon  as 
they  were  alone. 


THE    VOW  143 


There  was  a  worried  look  on  his  face,  and  it  seemed 
to  Drake  that  there  were  lines  around  his  eyes  that  he 
had  not  before  noticed. 

"  Baron  de  Croiseuil  called  this  afternoon,  and  Lady 
Mildred  insisted  upon  seeing  him.  They  may  be  to- 
gether now." 

Gaunt  smothered  an  oath,  as  he  crossed  the  room  to 
ring  the  bell,  and  no  word  was  spoken  until  the  footman 
came. 

"  Is  your  mistress  alone  ?  "  Gaunt  demanded  abruptly. 

"  Yes,  I  think  so,  sir." 

"  Has  the  Baron  de  Croiseuil  gone  ?  " 

"  Yes,  sir.     About  a  quarter  of  an  hour  ago." 

"  You  can  go,  James,"  Gaunt  said  to  the  footman,  and 
as  soon  as  the  latter  had  left  the  room  he  sank  back  into 
a  chair  with  a  groan. 

"Is  it  very  serious,  what  he  might  say  to  Lady 
Mildred  ?  "  Drake  asked  hurriedly. 

"  Lady  Mildred  will  consider  it  more  than  serious.  But 
don't  talk  for  a  few  minutes.  I  want  to  do  some  hard 
thinking." 

It  was  a  quarter  of  an  hour  before  Gaunt  sprang  to 
his  feet,  and  there  was  the  light  of  battle  in  his  eyes. 

"  Sit  down,  father  confessor,  while  I  tell  you  the  whole 
story,"  he  said  with  a  mirthless  laugh. 

"  There  was  a  man  named  Marillier  on  the  Congo.  A 
blackguard  of  the  worst  description,  and  soon  after  I 
arrived  in  the  country  we  came  into  contact.  He  was 
the  most  callous  of  all  the  brutes  that  go  to  make  up 
Congo  officialdom,  and  in  those  days  I  was  not  inured 
to  sickening  sights.  One  day  I  went  to  his  station,  and 
found  him  with  his  own  hand  flogging  a  young  girl  of 


144  THE    VOW 

about  fifteen,  one  of  his  numerous  native  wives.  He 
used  the  chicotte,  a  murderous  instrument  of  torture,  and 
the  girl  was  half  dead.  I  lost  my  temper,  and  seized  the 
chicotte  with  which  I  gave  him  a  little  of  what  he  had 
been  giving  the  girl." 

"  I  am  very  glad  to  hear  it,"  Drake  cried  vehemently. 

"  I  took  the  poor  girl  on  to  my  own  station,  and  that 
night  Marillier  turned  up  in  a  drunken  rage.  In  his 
hand  he  carried  a  revolver,  and  commenced  firing  at  me. 
I  had  no  desire  to  die,  so  I  took  my  own  weapon  and 
fired." 

Gaunt  paused,  and  his  breath  came  quickly. 

"  My  shot  reached  home,  and  he  died." 

"  You  were  justified  by  every  moral  law,"  Drake  said 
quietly. 

"  So  the  officials  seemed  to  think  who  investigated  the 
matter,  for  I  heard  no  more  about  it  until  last  night 
when  the  Baron  visited  me,"  Gaunt  said  grimly. 

"  I  am  confident  that  Lady  Mildred  will  hold  you 
justified  when  she  hears  your  side  of  the  story." 

"  I  hope  so,  but  that  isn't  the  worst  from  her  point  of 
view.  There  is  only  one  thing  that  I  dread  her  hearing, 
and  the  Baron  knows  it." 

"  What  is  that  ?  "  Drake  asked  anxiously. 

"  It  isn't  a  pretty  story,  but  you'd  better  know  it.  Of 
course  you  can't  appreciate  the  code  of  morality  that 
exists  in  West  Africa.  Nearly  all  the  white  men  out 
there  have  native  wives.  In  fact,  many  of  the  Congo 
officials  have  half  a  dozen.  From  the  woman's  point 
of  view,  it  is  a  valid  marriage  and  her  status  is  raised 
thereby.  You  can  guess  what  is  coming,"  Gaunt  said 
miserably. 


THE    VOW  145 


"  You  had  a  native  wife  ?  " 

"  No.  But  the  general  belief  throughout  the  Congo 
was  that  I  had  taken  Marillier's  native  wife  and  that  that 
was  the  reason  why  he  had  attacked  me.  But  there  is 
no  necessity  to  go  into  details,  and  I  will  simply  say  that 
while  I  was  on  the  Congo,  I  lived  a  clean  life,  as  far  as 
women  are  concerned.  You  know  Lady  Mildred,  and  if 
the  Baron  should  tell  her " 

Gaunt  broke  off,  and  turned  away  so  that  Drake 
should  not  see  the  misery  in  his  eyes.  The  latter  had 
listened  to  this  recital  in  dismay,  for  he  saw  clearly  that 
Lady  Mildred  would  be  deeply  hurt  should  the  Baron 
have  told  this  story,  and  he  could  say  no  word  of  comfort. 

"  Why  don't  you  speak  ?  Do  you  think  that  I  have 
lied  to  you  ?  "  Gaunt  demanded  fiercely. 

"  No.  Of  course  I  believe  you,  but  I  fear  that  your 
enemies  have  a  powerful  weapon.  The  Baron  may 
honestly  believe  that  you  killed  Marillier  on  account  of 

the  woman,  but "  He  ceased  to  speak,  and  his  face 

cleared.  "  I  don't  think  the  Baron  will  have  told  Lady 
Mildred,  yet ;  for  he  will  hold  it  in  reserve  to  use  against 
you.  Why  don't  you  go  to  her  yourself  at  once  and  tell 
her?  Hearing  it  from  you  she  might  believe,  while  if 
the  knowledge  came  from  a  stranger  —  there  would 
always  remain  a  suspicion." 

"  You  have  set  me  a  hard  task,  and  I  don't  think  that 
I  have  the  strength  to  carry  it  out,"  Gaunt  said  dully. 

"Believe  me,  it  is  the  best  plan  —  the  only  one," 
Drake  said  impetuously. 

Gaunt  did  not  answer,  but  stared  moodily  into  the  fire 
and  the  silence  became  oppressive,  but  soon  there  was  a 
knock  at  the  door  and  a  footman  entered. 


146  THE    VOW 

"  Her  ladyship  would  like  to  see  you  in  her  room," 
he  announced. 

"  Now  is  your  chance,"  Drake  whispered  earnestly. 
But  Gaunt  did  not  move. 


CHAPTER  XIX 

LADY  MILDRED  was  thoroughly  upset  by  the 
interview  with  Baron  de  Croiseuil,  for  she  real- 
ized that  a  grave  warning  had  been  given  her. 
When  her  anger  subsided,  it  was  only  natural  that  she 
should  be  curious  about  her  husband's  past  life  in  the 
Congo,  and  although  she  knew  that  Gaunt  had  been  no 
saint,  it  was  difficult  to  believe  that  he  had  ever  done 
anything  to  warrant  the  Baron's  thinly  disguised  threat. 
Not  for  a  moment  did  she  regret  the  attitude  she  had 
taken  up ;  indeed,  pride  had  left  no  alternative,  but  all 
the  same  she  was  conscious  of  a  feeling  of  uneasiness, 
and  looked  forward  with  impatience  to  meeting  her 
husband. 

She  waited  restlessly  for  the  footman  whom  she  had 
sent  to  see  if  he  had  returned. 

"Did  you  give  Mr.  Gaunt  my  message ?"  she  asked 
when  he  appeared. 

"  Yes,  my  lady." 

"  Is  he  corning?  " 

"  Mr.  Gaunt  did  not  say.  He  is  in  the  billiard  room 
with  Mr.  Drake." 

"  That  will  do,"  she  said  by  way  of  dismissal. 

A  quarter  of  an  hour  passed,  and  when  Gaunt  did  not 
arrive,  her  uneasiness  increased  ;  but  at  last  he  appeared, 
and  she  at  once  noticed  a  strangeness  in  his  manner. 

"  I  am  sorry  I  have  been  so  long,"  he  began  apologet- 

J47 


148  THE    VOW 


ically ;  but  he  was  regarding  her  anxiously,  to  see  if  he 
could  gather  from  her  attitude  whether  the  Baron  had 
spoken. 

"  I  had  a  visit  from  the  Baron  de  Croiseuil  this  after- 
noon. But  won't  you  sit  down,  John  ?  "  she  said  nerv- 
ously. 

Gaunt  was  inclined  to  think  that  she  was  still  in  igno- 
rance of  what  he  dreaded  that  she  should  hear,  and  a 
quick  sigh  of  relief  escaped  him. 

"  What  did  the  Baron  want  ?  You  will  understand  that 
he  is  not  exactly  my  friend,"  he  said  very  quietly. 

"  So  I  gathered  from  my  interview,  for  he  spoke  very 
plainly  about  these  speeches  you  have  been  making.  I 
am  afraid  that  you  will  find  him  an  active  enemy  if  you 
continue  to  interest  yourself  in  the  Congo." 

"  The  Baron  and  I  have  already  discussed  that  matter 
at  some  length,  and  we  were  unable  to  arrive  at  an 
agreement.  I  presume  he  came  to  ask  you  to  persuade 
me  to  keep  my  mouth  shut  ?  "  Gaunt  said  grimly. 

"  You  are  right,  and  he  did  not  mince  matters." 

"  It  is  his  habit  to  be  blunt  where  bluntness  suits  his 
purpose.  May  I  ask  what  line  he  took?"  he  said 
casually,  but  Lady  Mildred  could  see  that  he  was  very 
anxious. 

"  It  appears  that  you  left  rather  an  unsavory  record 
behind  in  the  Congo,  and  he  suggested  that  his  friends 
might  find  it  necessary  to  see  that  your  past  was  resusci- 
tated. He  spoke  in  a  perfectly  friendly  way,  and  pre- 
tended that  he  had  come  out  of  consideration  for  myself, 
imagining  that  some  of  the  mud  which  would  be  thrown 
at  you  might  stick  upon  myself,"  she  said  hurriedly. 

"  I  see,"  he  answered  reflectively,  and  then  paused  for 


THE    VOW  149 


a  while.  "  Would  you  mind  telling  me  how  you  an- 
swered him  ?  " 

"  I  rang  for  the  footman,  and  gave  orders  that  in  fu- 
ture I  should  not  be  at  home  if  he  called,"  she  replied 
quietly. 

Gaunt's  face  lighted  up  wonderfully,  and  she  blushed 
at  the  sight  of  the  emotion  that  her  answer  had  conjured 
up. 

"  That  was  good  of  you,  Mildred.  But  you  could  not 
have  acted  differently.  About  this  black  record  of  mine 
on  the  Congo ;  weren't  you  curious  to  know  of  what  it 
consisted  ?  Didn't  you  ask  him  for  particulars  ?  " 

"  I  was  curious,  I  admit,  but  I  would  not-  lower  myself 
by  questioning  him,"  she  answered  proudly. 

"  And  you  still  are  curious  ?"  he  persisted. 

"  Yes,"  the  answer  came  reluctantly. 

Their  eyes  met,  but  Gaunt  quickly  turned  away  to 
conceal  the  struggle  that  was  taking  place  in  his  mind. 
Now  was  the  opportunity  of  making  his  confession ;  but 
when  he  remembered  its  sordid  nature,  the  words  refused 
to  come.  In  his  imagination  he  could  see  the  look  of 
loathing  that  would  come  to  her  face,  and  suddenly  he 
determined  that  at  all  costs  she  must  remain  in  igno- 
rance of  the  fact  that  he  had  killed  a  man,  and  might  be 
charged  with  the  crime  of  murder. 

"  I  wonder  if  you  would  be  content  to  remain  in  igno- 
rance? I  must  admit  that  before  I  met  you,  I  did  many 
things  that  you  would  condemn,  but  I  would  rather  that 
you  remained  in  ignorance  of  them.  Knowledge  can  do 
no  good.  Do  I  ask  too  much  ?  "  he  said  eagerly. 

It  was  clear  to  him  that  she  was  disappointed  by  his 
.request  and  he  waited  anxiously  for  her  to  speak. 


150 THE    VOW 

"  John,  I  feel  that  I  am  becoming  surrounded  by  mys- 
tery," she  cried  impetuously.  "  If  we  are  driven  apart  — 
which  God  forbid !  —  it  will  be  because  you  refuse  to  give 
me  your  confidence.  I  am  going  to  ask  you  a  favor,  and 
I  want  you  to  think  carefully  before  you  give  me  an  an- 
swer. The  other  day  I  wished  you  to  take  me  away  at 
once  and  you  refused.  It  is  not  an  easy  matter  for  me 
to  repeat  the  request ;  but  I  do  so,  and  very  earnestly, 
for  I  believe  that  if  we  were  alone  for  a  while,  all  this 
foolish  suspicion  would  vanish,  and " 

"  And ?  "  he  repeated  dully  when  she  hesitated. 

"  It  is  difficult  for  me  to  speak  of  the  new  feeling 
which  has  crept  into  my  heart,  but  I  believe  that  I  could 
love  you,  if  you  would  allow  me  to  do  so." 

"  Mildred,"  he  cried  hoarsely,  and  rising,  held  out  his 
arms  towards  her. 

"  No,  John.  Before  that,  everything  must  be  clear 
and  straightforward.  I  must  confess  that  I  cannot  un- 
derstand why  you  are  waging  this  war  on  the  Congo  of- 
ficials, for  it  is  not  your  nature  to  turn  upon  those  who 
were  once  your  friends,  and  who  helped  you  to  your 
present  position.  I  want  to  know  why  you  are  doing 
so.  Have  you  suddenly  become  religious,  and  is  it 
from  a  sense  of  duty  ?  " 

Gaunt  shook  his  head,  and  his  depression  increased. 

"  There  must  be  some  very  forceful  reason,  for  you  are 
running  a  great  risk.  The  Baron  will  certainly  do  all 
the  mischief  that  he  can.  Perhaps  he  will  publish  your 
record,  and  that  will  not  be  very  pleasant  for  either  of 
us.  And  there's  baby  to  be  considered." 

Her  voice  sank  and  contained  a  note  of  awe  when  she 
spoke  the  last  sentence. 


THE    VOW  151 

"  I  am  willing  to  sink  my  curiosity  —  which  is  some- 
thing for  a  woman  to  sacrifice.  I  am  willing  to  do  any- 
thing you  like,  so  long  as  you  will  promise  to  come  away 
with  me,"  she  said  with  quiet  earnestness. 

Gaunt  was  moved,  and  for  a  moment  was  sorely  tempted 
to  agree  to  what  she  proposed,  whatever  might  be  the 
consequences.  It  must  be  remembered  that  he  loved  his 
wife  passionately,  and  that  she  was  offering  him  all  that 
he  desired — her  love.  A  few  weeks  ago  he  would  have 
been  overjoyed  and  his  happiness  would  have  been  com- 
plete—  but  now 

His  bond  was  stronger  than  his  love.  The  temptation 
was  ruthlessly  swept  aside,  and  there  was  born  a  deter- 
mination which  in  the  future  should  be  his  guide  with 
reference  to  his  wife  —  he  would  not  accept  her  love  un- 
less he  could  come  to  her  with  perfectly  clean  hands,  and 
that  could  not  be  until  his  fight  for  the  Congo  natives 
was  finished.  Mud  would  be  thrown  at  him,  and  his 
reputation  might  be  blackened,  but  when  the  struggle 
was  over,  and  she  would  know  the  worst  —  save  perhaps 
that  one  thing  which  he  must  keep  from  her  at  all  costs. 

Now  she  was  offering  him  her  love,  and  should  he  pass 
it  by,  might  it  not  be  refused  him  later  on  ?  Lady  Mil- 
dred was  proud  and  would  feel  deeply  his  refusal ;  but 
there  seemed  to  be  no  alternative,  and  he  braced  himself 
up  to  speak. 

"  I  would  give  all  that  I  possess  in  the  world  to  be 
able  to  do  what  you  wish,  but  I  cannot,"  he  said  des- 
perately. 

"  And  I  may  not  know  the  reason  ?  "  she  said  coldly, 
and  her  face  had  grown  very  white. 

"  I  can  only  tell  you  that  my  honor  is  bound  up  in  the 


152  THE    VOW 


Congo.  You  yourself  encouraged  me  to  undo  some 
of  the  harm  for  which  I  was  responsible.  I  have 
vowed " 

He  broke  off  and  turned  away  so  that  she  should  not 
see  his  emotion. 

"  I  have  vowed  not  to  turn  back,"  he  continued  more 
firmly.  "And  I  cannot  break  my  word.  You  would 
not  respect  me  if  I  did  so." 

"  Is  that  all  you  have  to  say  ?  Do  you  intend  to  turn 
me  deliberately  out  of  your  life  ? "  she  cried  passion- 
ately. 

"  Mildred  —  I  can  only  ask  you  to  be  patient  and  to 
trust  me." 

There  was  a  world  of  appeal  in  his  voice,  but  now  she 
had  hardened  her  heart  against  him,  and  was  unaffected. 

"  I  love  you  body  and  soul,  and  if  you  only  knew  what 
your  offer  meant  to  me  —  a  happiness  so  intense  as  almost 
to  amount  to  pain.  Since  we  first  met,  my  whole  object 
in  life  has  been  to  win  your  love.  During  all  our  months 
of  married  life  your  indifference  was  a  torture ;  but  I  was 
determined  to  be  patient,  for  the  ultimate  reward  was 
worth  any  sacrifice.  And  then  came  the  baby.  My 
hopes  rose,  and " 

"  You  tell  me  that  you  love  me,  and  yet  you  refuse  my 
request.  You  stultify  yourself,  John.  Love  that  cannot 
make  this  little  sacrifice  is  unworthy  of  the  name." 

"  Sacrifice,"  he  repeated  vehemently.  "  There  is  no 
sacrifice  that  I  would  not  gladly  make  for  the  happiness 
of  which  you  have  given  me  a  glimpse." 

"  John." 

Her  face  had  softened  wondrously,  and  she  held  out 
her  hand  towards  him.  It  appeared  to  Gaunt  that  his 


THE    VOW  153 


wife  had  never  been  so  beautiful,  and  the  temptation  to 
take  her  in  his  arms  became  maddening. 

"  John,"  she  repeated  softly. 

"  Don't  tempt  me,  Mildred.  You  do  not  know  what 
you  are  doing.  If  I  were  to  accept,  I  should  never  know 
a  moment's  happiness.  My  soul  would  be  eternally 
damned,  and  I  could  never  look  into  your  eyes  without 
feeling  ashamed.  No,  I  will  play  the  game,  and  you 
shall  have  an  honest  man  for  husband,  and  not  a  pol- 
troon," he  cried  vehemently. 

She  realized  that  he  was  deeply  moved  and  that  the 
words  were  wrung  from  him,  but  she  could  not  under- 
stand, and  without  understanding  could  give  him  no 
sympathy. 

"  Again  this  mystery,  John.  What  does  it  mean  ?  " 
she  asked  wearily.  But  he  would  not  reply,  but  turned 
away  to  the  window  through  which  he  stared  moodily. 
The  reaction  had  set  in  and  he  longed  to  be  alone,  for 
the  sight  of  her  tormented  him,  reminding  him  of  what 
he  was  thrusting  from  his  life. 

At  last  he  looked  round,  and  found  that  she  had  gone. 
With  a  savage  laugh  he  stepped  into  the  middle  of  the 
room,  but  suddenly  his  eyes  alighted  upon  a  small  lace 
handkerchief  which  lay  on  the  floor.  It  was  the  work 
of  an  instant  to  pick  it  up  and  place  it  in  his  pocket. 

Down-stairs  to  the  library  he  went,  and  there  found 
Edward  Drake,  who  was  reading  an  evening  news- 
paper. 

"  Have  you  told  her?"  Drake  asked  anxiously. 

"  No,  and  I  don't  intend  to  do  so,"  Gaunt  cried 
harshly. 

«  Then  God  help  you  !  " 


154  THE    VOW 


Gaunt  laughed,  but  there  was  no  mirth  in  the  sound. 

"  I  shall  need  your  prayers  and  His  help,"  he  said,  and 
then  sank  back  into  the  chair,  covering  his  face  with  his 
hands. 


CHAPTER  XX 

JOHN  GAUNT  sat  motionless  while  Drake  looked 
at  him  with  eyes  that  were  brimming  over  with 
sympathy,  for  it  was  easy  for  him  to  guess  what 
had  occurred.  Although  disappointed  that  his  advice 
had  not  been  followed,  he  could  not  greatly  blame  the 
millionaire  for  having  lacked  the  courage  to  make  a  con- 
fession that  might  have  estranged  him  from  his  wife 
forever. 

"  You  are  addressing  another  meeting  to-night.  It 
will  soon  be  time  to  dress,"  he  remarked. 

"  You  expect  me  to  speak  to-night,  when  my  soul  is 
tortured?  Have  you  no  pity,  man?  Do  you  realize 
what  the  carrying  out  of  this  vow  means  to  me  ?  I  have 
but  to  break  it  and  all  my  difficulties  vanish.  Drake,  I 
am  beginning  to  think  I  must  give  in,"  he  wound  up 
wearily. 

The  passion  had  vanished  and  a  great  anguish  of  mind 
had  taken  its  place,  for  he  had  been  thinking,  and  it 
seemed  as  though  he  had  signed  the  death  warrant  of 
his  happiness  by  refusing  his  wife's  request.  Even  the 
strongest  men  have  moments  of  weakness  and  Gaunt 
lost  grip  of  his  purpose,  revealing  himself  as  he  had 
never  before  done  to  human  being. 

"You,  Drake,  are  a  cold-blooded  saint  —  a  man 
untouched  by  thought  of  woman  and  you  cannot 
imagine  the  awful  longing  which  is  in  me.  I  worship  my 
wife,  and  every  fibre  of  my  being  longs  for  her.  Now  I 

155 


156 THE    VOW 

must  forego  my  desire,  and  —  By  Heaven  !  I  can't  do 
it.  To  hell  with  the  Congo,  for  I've  done  with  its 
suffering  niggers,"  he  cried  recklessly. 

Drake's  face  was  white  and  drawn,  his  lips  moved  but 
no  words  could  be  heard  during  the  breathless  silence 
that  followed. 

"  I'm  not  an  archangel  and  I  can't  rise  to  your  heights. 

It  is  my  nature  to  sink  and What  am  I  saying?" 

Gaunt  broke  off  abruptly,  and  wildly  brushed  his  hand 
across  his  forehead. 

Edward  Drake's  breath  came  quickly  but  still  he 
would  not  speak  and,  approaching  Gaunt,  affectionately 
placed  his  hand  on  his  shoulder. 

"  I,  too,  love  as  you  do,  and  I  understand.  Gaunt, 
you  are  my  friend,  and  I  am  proud  of  it.  I  believe  in 
you,  and  know  that  you  do  not  mean  the  words  that  you 
have  spoken.  During  the  last  few  days  I  have  been 
filled  with  admiration  for  the  things  you  have  done. 
You  have  shown  courage  of  a  high  order.  You  made  a 
vow  and  you  have  carried  it  out  in  the  spirit  and  the 
letter.  Gaunt,  you  will  not  weaken,  I  implore  you. 
Remember  the  good  that  you  have  already  done.  You 
are  rousing  England  from  its  lethargy,  and  you  only 
have  to  continue  to  win  the  battle.  Think  of  it,  Gaunt. 
You  can  save  the  natives  from  torture  and  make  them 
free  men.  Could  mortal  man  have  a  nobler  task  ?  " 

He  spoke  with  deep  feeling,  but  his  words  were 
unheeded. 

"  Can  you  blame  me  if  I  give  way  ?  On  the  one 
hand  is  the  love  of  my  wife  and  on  the  other  a  bitter 
fight  that  may  lose  me  every  friend  that  I  possess.  In  a 
few  days  the  country  may  ring  with  the  things  that  I 


THE    VOW 157 

have  done,  and  my  wife  may  be  ashamed  afthe  mention 
of  my  name.  You  deliberately  ask  me  to  make  this 
sacrifice,  and  for  what  ?  For  a  promise  made  in  a 
moment  of  dire  distress,  when  I  scarcely  knew  what  I 
was  saying,"  Gaunt  cried  vehemently. 

"  For  a  promise  made  to  God,"  Drake  said  in  a  low 
voice. 

His  face  showed  signs  of  a  great  emotion,  and 
suddenly  he  sank  to  his  knees  and  prayed  aloud. 

"  I  pray  you  to  give  this  man  courage  to  endure,  so 
that  this  great  good  can  be  accomplished." 

And  then  his  voice  sank,  so  that  Gaunt  could  not 
catch  the  fervent  words  he  uttered.  But  Drake's  action 
of  falling  on  to  his  knees  had  recalled  the  millionaire  to 
his  senses,  for  it  brought  vividly  back  to  his  mind  the 
night  of  anguish  when  he  had  made  the  vow.  And 
soon  the  weakness  passed  and  he  became  once  more  the 
strong  man,  so  that  he  was  ashamed  of  the  words  that 
he  bad  spoken. 

Drake  rose  to  his  feet,  and  his  face  was  still  very 
white,  but  when  he  saw  the  change  in  Gaunt,  he  gave  a 
glad  cry  and  ran  towards  him. 

"  Thank  God,"  he  cried  fervently  and  held  forth  his 
hand. 

Gaunt  did  not  speak  at  once  but  looked  curiously  at 
the  man  who  was  exerting  such  an  influence  on  his  life. 

"  I  am  sorry,  Drake.  Please  forget  this  pitiable  scene, 
and  I  promise  you  that  it  sha'n't  occur  again.  I  was  a 
little  upset,  and " 

"  Say  no  more.  You  have  fought  a  bitter  fight  and 
won." 

"I  think  it  was  the  sight  of  you  praying  that  gave  me 


158  THE    VOW 

strength  to  conquer."  Then  he  glanced  hastily  at  his 
watch.  "  You  were  quite  right.  It  is  time  to  dress,"  he 
said  quickly,  and  Drake  knew  that  the  subject  must 
never  again  be  mentioned  between  them. 

They  met  again  at  dinner,  and  Gaunt  was  relieved 
that  his  wife  was  absent.  Lady  Ethel  and  Captain 
Drake  did  most  of  the  talking,  and  the  former  declared 
her  intention  of  accompanying  the  others  to  the  meeting. 

"  My  sister  is  tired,  and  I  shall  be  all  alone.  May  I 
not  come  ?  "  she  asked  Gaunt  who  looked  doubtfully  at 
her. 

But  she  persisted  and  when  consent  was  finally  given, 
she  ran  away  to  get  ready. 

That  night  Gaunt  surpassed  himself,  and  his  words 
caused  a  deep  impression  on  the  vast  crowd  that  was 
present.  The  emotion  of  the  afternoon  had  not  entirely 
left  him,  and  perhaps  it  was  that  which  gave  him 
additional  eloquence,  so  that  there  were  many  moist 
eyes  when  he  resumed  his  seat. 

Lady  Ethel  was  amazed  at  the  earnestness  of  her 
brother-in-law,  and  she  gave  a  quick  look  at  Edward 
Drake. 

"  Mr.  Gaunt  has  spoken  as  one  inspired,"  she  said  in  a 
low  voice.  "  Are  you  responsible  for  his  joining  in  this 
crusade  ?  " 

"  No ;  but  I  share  his  desire  to  help  the  Congo  people. 
If  I  had  his  gift  of  eloquence,  I  should  be  only  too  glad 
to  speak  as  he  is  doing.  Don't  you  admire  him  for  it  ?  " 
he  asked  quietly. 

"  I  am  thinking  of  my  sister,  while  you  think  only  of 
the  Congo,"  she  answered  gravely,  and  then  lapsed  into 
silence. 


THE    VOW  159 

But  when  they  were  home  again  she  returned  to  the 
subject. 

"  Sit  down,"  she  said  to  Drake,  "  and  answer  me  one 
question.  Why  is  Mr.  Gaunt  doing  this?  I  am  sure 
it  is  not  solely  from  a  philanthropic  motive,  and  I 
believe  that  you  are  at  the  bottom  of  it.  I  cannot  deny 
that  it  is  a  good  work,  and  I  am  filled  with  pity  for  the 
poor  natives  who  are  so  cruelly  treated.  But  from  my 
knowledge  of  Mr.  Gaunt's  character,  he  is  not  the  man 
to  concern  himself  with  such  a  thing.  In  fact,  I  used  to 
imagine  him  to  be  rather  a  bad  lot  in  a  respectable  sort 
of  way.  Before  he  became  engaged  to  my  sister,  I 
received  many  letters  from  friends,  and  they  were  not  all 
filled  with  complimentary  references  to  the  man  who  was 
thought  likely  to  become  my  brother-in-law.  It  seems 
to  me  that  he  is  dreadfully  worried  about  something 
and  that  something  has  to  do  with  the  Congo. 
You  must  not  think  that  I  cannot  be  serious  and  I  tell 
you  that  I  am  very  anxious  to  help  my  sister  and 
her  husband.  Take  me  into  your  confidence,  Mr. 
Drake  —  two  heads  are  better  than  one,"  she  said 
appealingly. 

"  I  would  willingly  do  so,  Lady  Ethel,  but  I  have  no 
right  to  speak  without  Mr.  Gaunt's  consent.  In  a  way  I 
am  his  servant,"  he  answered  regretfully. 

Drake  gave  a  sigh  of  relief  when  Gaunt  entered  ac- 
companied by  Captain  Drake. 

"  I  want  a  chat  with  you,"  the  former  said  to  him,  and 
he  rose  so  promptly  that  Lady  Ethel  smiled. 

"  You  welcome  the  interruption,"  she  said  coldly,  and 
then  turned  graciously  to  Captain  Drake,  who  had  occu- 
pied the  chair  vacated  by  his  brother. 


160  THE    VOW 


"  Wasn't  it  a  ripping  meeting  ?  I  think  Mr.  Gaunt 
spoke  splendidly,"  the  latter  said  eagerly. 

"  Yes.  He  certainly  aroused  great  enthusiasm.  But 
do  you  think  it  will  do  much  material  good  ?  Things 
will  go  on  as  before,  and  the  natives  will  suffer  just  the 
same,"  she  answered  quietly. 

"  I  am  not  so  sure  about  that,  for  it  is  evident  that 
England  is  waking  up.  The  papers  are  pitching  it  a  bit 
more  strongly,  and  who  knows  that  we  may  not  be  able 
to  force  the  government  to  move." 

"  You  seem  almost  as  enthusiastic  as  your  brother  and 
Mr.  Gaunt,"  she  remarked,  and  gave  him  a  quick  look  from 
beneath  her  lashes,  which  brought  the  color  to  his  cheeks. 

"  I  have  been  doing  a  great  deal  of  hard  thinking  since 
I  came  back  from  West  Africa.  I  never  was  a  serious 
kind  of  chap  like  Edward,  but  I've  always  admired  him. 
He  has  a  wonderful  way  with  him,  and  has  compelled 
me  to  see  things  through  his  own  eyes.  Of  course  I 
have  always  known  that  the  state  of  affairs  in  the  Congo 
was  a  crying  scandal,  but  it  never  worried  me  much  till  I 
heard  Mr.  Gaunt  speak.  Now  I  am  with  them  heart 
and  soul,"  he  cried  earnestly. 

"  Can  you  tell  me  what  made  my  brother-in-law  take 
up  the  Congo  question  ?  "  she  asked  casually. 

"  There  can  be  only  one  reason.  He  is  acting  from 
conviction,"  he  answered  wonderingly. 

"  If  you  really  think  that,  then  you  don't  know  John 
Gaunt.  So  they  haven't  taken  you  into  their  confi- 
dence ?  "  she  said  reflectively. 

"  What  other  reason  could  there  possibly  be  ?  " 

"That  is  just  what  I  want  to  find  out.  Ask  your 
brother,  and  let  me  know  what  he  says." 


THE    VOW  161 

"  I  will  certainly  do  so,  but  I  am  sure  that  I  am  right. 
Mr.  Gaunt  is  a  '  white '  man  and  could  have  no  ulterior 
purpose  in  what  he  is  doing.  Besides,  my  brother  would 
not  be  his  friend  if  everything  were  not  straightforward," 
he  continued  stoutly. 

"  There  I  agree  with  you,"  Lady  Ethel  broke  in  quickly. 
"  And  I  do  not  suggest  that  his  motive  is  an  unworthy 
one.  Your  brother  had  practically  admitted  that  a  motive 
does  exist,  but  he  refuses  to  tell  me  what  it  is.  Now  I 
am  not  anxious  to  know  merely  from  a  sense  of  curiosity, 
but  to  help  my  sister,  for  she  is  very  worried.  Will  you 
do  your  best  to  find  out  what  it  is  and  then  let  me  know  ?  " 

Captain  Drake  looked  at  her,  and  there  was  intense 
surprise  in  his  eyes. 

"  Would  it  be  quite  right  that  I  should  tell  you  when 
Edward  does  not  wish  you  to  know  ?  I  mean,  should  I 
be  acting  straightforwardly  if  I  did  so?"  he  suggested 
gently. 

Lady  Ethel  jumped  to  her  feet  and  it  was  evident  that 
she  was  annoyed. 

"  Captain  Drake,  you  ought  to  have  been  a  member 
of  your  brother's  profession.  You  are  only  fit  for  the 
Church.  I  did  think  that  I  could  rely  on  you,"  she  said 
reproachfully. 

"  You  can  rely  on  me,  Lady  Ethel ;  I  would  gladly 
lay  down  my  life  to  serve  you,"  he  answered  simply,  and 
although  the  words  may  have  been  melodramatic,  his 
manner  of  speaking  made  them  sound  natural. 

"  And  yet  you  refuse  this  one  little  request  —  the  first 
that  I  have  ever  made  to  you,"  she  answered  ironically. 

"  I  am  disappointed  that  you  should  have  asked  me  to 
do  such  a  thing.  It  was  not  worthy  of  you." 


i62 THE    VOW 

Their  eyes  met,  and  though  his  contained  not  a  hint 
of  reproach,  she  resented  that  he  should  dare  to  judge 
her  actions. 

"  Good-night,"  she  said  curtly  and  hastened  towards 
the  door. 

"  Lady  Ethel,"  he  began  hurriedly,  but  her  only  an- 
swer was  to  close  the  door  rather  sharply ;  and  he  sank 
back  into  his  chair  with  a  sigh. 

"  After  all,  she  is  only  a  child,"  he  muttered. 

And  soon  a  smile  came  to  his  face,  for  he  was  remem- 
bering her  many  virtues,  and  he  loved. 


CHAPTER  XXI 

BY  the  following  morning  John  Gaunt  had  decided 
upon   his   plan   of  campaign   and  without  any 
delay  started  to  work  by  communicating  with 
the  secretary  of  the  Congo  Reform  Association.    Money 
was   to   be  spent   lavishly,   and  capable  speakers  were 
chosen  to  speak  in  different  parts  of  the  country.    Gaunt 
himself  was  to  go  to  the  great  centres  and  his  visits  were 
to  be  advertised  in  every  possible  way.     The  secretary 
eagerly  welcomed  this  new  ally,  and  threw  himself  with 
energy  into  the  task  of  making  the  necessary  arrangements. 

"  I  suggest  that  we  bombard  the  papers  with  articles, 
and  if  there  is  any  difficulty  in  getting  them  inserted,  I 
am  prepared  to  pay  the  advertisement  rates,"  Gaunt  said 
grimly. 

Edward  Drake  was  present  at  the  interview,  and  re- 
joiced to  see  that  Gaunt  no  longer  hesitated,  but  was 
now  even  more  determined  to  fulfil  his  vow. 

"  I  should  like  these  articles  to  be  sent  out  at  once  — 
to-day  if  possible,"  Gaunt  continued  quickly. 

"  It  shall  be  done,"  the  secretary  answered  promptly. 

For  years  he  had  waged  a  war  against  overwhelming 
odds  and  now  he  began  to  hope  that  success  was  in 
sight.  Always  he  had  lacked  the  help  of  such  a  man  as 
Gaunt,  with  his  millions,  and  he  thanked  Providence  for 
his  good  fortune,  but  still,  like  the  rest  of  the  world,  he 
could  not  quite  understand  why  the  millionaire  had 
thrown  himself  into  the  fray. 

163 


164 THE    VOW    

Gaunt  had  devoted  his  brains  to  planning  out  the  best 
way  of  rousing  the  country,  and  no  detail  was  too  small 
for  his  consideration.  It  was  after  a  hard  but  satisfactory 
day's  work  that  he  returned  home  with  Drake,  and  dur- 
ing the  drive  was  wondering  how  he  would  be  received 
by  his  wife.  They  did  not  meet  until  dinner  time,  and 
Lady  Mildred  showed  him  quite  plainly  but  politely  that 
she  had  not  forgiven  him  for  having  refused  to  go  away 
in  the  yacht. 

In  fact,  during  the  meal,  they  were  all  conscious  of  a 
feeling  of  embarrassment,  and  it  was  a  relief  when  the 
ladies  left  them  to  their  cigars.  Gaunt  only  spoke  in  an- 
swer to  a  question,  for  he  was  thinking  over  his  position, 
and  it  seemed  to  him  that  the  crisis  must  be  very  near  at 
hand.  The  few  hours  of  grace  given  to  him  by  the 
Baron  had  elapsed,  and  it  would  not  be  long  before  his 
enemies  made  a  move. 

The  next  morning  the  newspapers  were  brought  to 
him  at  an  early  hour,  and  the  first  thing  that  caught  his 
eye  was  the  front  page  of  the  Daily  Comet,  with  its  star- 
ing head-lines : 

"  Gaunt  and  the  Congo!' 

And  then  he  proceeded  to  read  a  bitter  attack  upon 
himself,  and  was  forced  to  admit  that  the  article  had 
been  written  with  the  greatest  skill,  for  it  consisted  of  in- 
sinuations against  his  character  which  it  would  be  diffi- 
cult to  rebut.  The  deal  in  Amanti  shares  was  referred 
to  in  veiled  terms,  although  to  those  on  the  inside  the 
meaning  was  quite  clear.  The  writer  proceeded  to  refer 
to  Gaunt's  life  in  the  Congo,  and  the  words  which  fol- 
lowed were  pungent. 

"  This  millionaire  has  allied  himself  with  the  Church, 


THE    VOW  165 


perhaps  in  the  hope  that  the  friendship  of  bishops  would 
cause  to  be  forgotten  the  means  by  which  he  gained  his 
ill-gotten  wealth.  As  we  write  there  is  before  us  a  writ- 
ten record  of  this  man's  life  in  the  Congo,  and  it  seems 
incredible  that  he  can  have  the  effrontery  to  pretend  that 
his  aim  is  the  betterment  of  the  race  that  he  himself  has 
persecuted  so  atrociously. 

"  Why  has  John  Gaunt  started  this  campaign  ?  We 
confess  that  we  are  unable  to  answer  the  question,  and 
until  we  can  do  so,  it  is  impossible  to  believe  in  his  good 
faith.  Philanthropy  is  the  last  charge  which  we  should 
think  of  bringing  against  him,  and  we  fear  that  he  can 
only  be  animated  by  some  motive  that  will  ultimately 
benefit  himself.  It  has  been  suggested  that  he  is  anxious 
to  bring  about  European  intervention,  in  the  hope  that 
he  will  be  rewarded  by  the  grant  of  valuable  concessions." 

Gaunt  could  read  no  more  but  threw  down  the  paper 
in  disgust,  and  he  had  no  doubt  that  the  Baron  was  re- 
sponsible for  this  virulent  attack.  Another  paper  at- 
tracted his  attention ;  the  whole  of  the  front  page,  which 
was  usually  occupied  by  advertisements,  contained  a 
statement  upon  the  Congo  question.  It  was  written 
without  any  exaggeration,  and  plainly  placed  before  the 
public  the  true  state  of  affairs,  laying  special  stress  upon 
the  manner  in  which  the  Belgians  were  deceiving 
Europe. 

There  were  very  few  papers  that  did  not  contain  a 
similar  article,  inserted  as  advertisements  and  paid  for 
with  Gaunt's  money. 

"  Now  I  think  that  the  fight  has  really  commenced, 
and  it  won't  be  long  before  the  Baron  makes  an  answer- 
ing move,"  he  muttered  to  himself. 


166  THE    VOW 


Shortly  afterwards  Edward  Drake  came  in  ;  under  his 
arm  was  a  bundle  of  newspapers,  and  he  smiled  when  he 
saw  those  that  Gaunt  had  thrown  on  the  floor. 

"  Isn't  it  splendid  ?  I  think  we  have  made  a  good 
start,"  he  said  cheerfully. 

"Do  you  refer  to  the  article  in  the  Comet?"  Gaunt 
asked  drily. 

"  No  one  will  pay  any  attention  to  that '  rag/  "  Drake 
answered  quickly,  and  then  hesitated  for  a  moment.  "  I 
wonder  if  you  would  allow  me  to  tell  Lady  Ethel  every- 
thing? She  might  be  able  to  help  us?"  he  asked  nerv- 
ously. 

A  smile  came  to  Gaunt's  face,  but  he  shook  his  head 
with  decision. 

"  I  am  afraid  that  curiosity  is  one  of  her  besetting 
weaknesses.  I  have  noticed  that  she  has  been  very  anx- 
ious to  find  out  what  is  going  on,  but  I  think  it  would 
be  wiser  to  allow  her  curiosity  to  remain  unsatisfied,"  he 
replied. 

"  I  am  not  sure  that  it  is  idle  curiosity,"  Drake 
said  reflectively.  "  She  is  very  fond  of  her  sister, 
and " 

"  We  will  change  the  subject,"  Gaunt  said  peremp- 
torily, and  Drake  realized  that  it  would  be  dangerous  to 
persist  further. 

However,  Gaunt  was  fated  to  meet  with  a  more  stren- 
uous advocate,  for  Lady  Ethel  herself  came  into  the 
library. 

"  Mr.  Drake,  I  wish  to  speak  to  Mr.  Gaunt,"  she  an- 
nounced quietly,  and  then  smiled  a  little  maliciously  at 
he  prepared  to  depart. 

"  What  do  you  want  ?     I'm  busy  and  haven't  much 


THE    VOW  167 


time  to  spare,"  Gaunt  said  curtly,  for  he  did  not  approve 
of  the  way  in  which  she  had  spoken. 

"  Busy  with  the  wretched  Congo,  I  suppose  ?  At  any 
rate,  you  can  find  time  to  discuss  a  matter  which  affects 
the  happiness  of  my  sister,"  she  said  slowly.  "  Unless, 
of  course,  the  wretched  natives  are  of  more  consequence 
than  your  wife,"  she  added  quickly,  and  there  was  a 
look  of  defiance  on  her  face. 

"  Don't  you  think  you  would  be  wiser  to  concern 
yourself  with  your  own  affairs  ?  It  would  seem  probable 
that  they  will  require  attention,  if  you  go  on  flirting  in 
the  same  reckless  manner,"  he  said  significantly. 

She  flushed  hotly  and  with  difficulty  suppressed  an 
angry  reply. 

"  I  am  not  to  be  bluffed  in  that  way.  I  have  come  for 
a  serious  talk  and  don't  intend  to  go  away  until  we  come 
to  an  understanding,"  she  said  with  quiet  determination. 

"  Very  well.  Say  your  say  and  pray  get  it  over  as 
quickly  as  possible,"  he  rejoined  with  a  sigh  of  resigna- 
tion. 

"  I  passed  the  nursery  just  now.  Your  wife  was  there, 
and  she  was  alone  with  the  baby.  She  did  not  see  me, 
and  she  was  crying  bitterly,  and  tears  are  nearly  strangers 
to  Mildred's  eyes.  Ah  !  I  am  glad  that  affects  you  a 
little.  I  don't  mean  to  suggest  that  she  hasn't  faults,  but 
at  heart  Mildred  is  a  fine  woman.  She  may  have  been 
selfish,  but  she  is  loyal  through  and  through,  and  I  hon- 
estly believe  that  she  has  learned  to  care  for  you." 

She  watched  him  anxiously,  and  was  encouraged  to 
proceed,  for  she  noticed  that  his  face  had  grown  white, 
and  there  was  a  look  of  utter  misery  in  his  eyes. 

"  I  must  confess  that  when  I  was  present  at  your  wed- 


168  THE    VOW 

ding,  I  imagined  that  she  was  selling  herself  to  you,  for  I 
could  see  nothing  attractive  in  your  personality ;  and, 
girl  as  I  was,  I  knew  something  of  the  way  in  which  the 
world  talked  of  you.  All  the  time  I  was  in  France  I  was 
wondering  how  you  were  getting  on  together,  and  when 
I  came  home  a  few  days  ago  I  was  amazed,  for  I  believed 
that  Mildred  cared  for  you.  What  I  have  seen  since  has 
confirmed  me  in  that  belief." 

She  paused  as  if  expecting  him  to  make  some  remark, 
but  Gaunt  remained  silent. 

"  I  have  no  doubt  that  you  love  Mildred.  At  times  I 
have  seen  an  expression  in  your  eyes  when  you  have 
been  talking  to  her  that  rather  frightened  me.  But  I 
think  that  I  should  like  to  be  loved  in  the  same  way,"  she 
added  pensively,  and  Gaunt  uttered  a  harsh  laugh. 

"  You  love  Mildred,  and  she  loves  you.  That  being 
so,  may  I  ask  what  all  this  wretched  fuss  is  about?"  she 
demanded  angrily. 

"  I  repeat  that  I  think  that  you  had  better  mind  your 
own  business." 

"  I  have  asked  Mildred  and  she  will  tell  me  nothing. 
Mr.  Drake  and  his  brother  have  practically  admitted  that 
there  is  a  secret  but  they  won't  tell  me  what  it  is.  I 
could  not  press  them  for  an  answer,  but  you  are 
different." 

Suddenly  her  whole  manner  changed,  softening  won- 
drously. 

"  John,  dear,  I  like  you,  for  I  believe  you  to  be  a 
good  sort.  Not  exactly  the  man  that  I  should  have 
chosen  to  be  Mildred's  husband,  but  I  believe  that  you 
are  the  only  one  that  could  make  her  happy.  I  know 
you  look  upon  me  as  a  little  fool,  and  perhaps  you  aren't 


THE    VOW  169 


far  wrong ;  but  I  love  Mildred,  and  hate  to  see  her  mis- 
erable. Go  to  her  now,  take  her  in  your  arms  and  kiss 
her.  Pack  up  your  traps  and  clear  off  together." 

"  I  wish  to  God  that  I  could,"  he  cried  passionately. 
"  Don't  you  realize  that  I  love  Mildred  body  and  soul  ? 
And  that  I  long  for  her  in  a  way  that  you  cannot  under- 
stand ?  Do  you  think  that  it  was  an  easy  matter  to  put 
her  deliberately  out  of  my  life  ?  Ethel,  it  is  killing  me 
—  this  necessity  —  and  yet  I  dare  not  do  otherwise.  You 
are  a  good  little  soul  to  come  to  me  in  this  way,  and  I 
won't  forget  it.  Ethel,  dear,  I,  too,  want  your  sym- 
pathy," he  wound  up  brokenly. 

She  could  see  that  he  was  suffering  acutely,  and  im- 
mediately all  her  sympathy  was  aroused.  She  placed 
her  hand  on  his  shoulder,  and  bending  her  head,  touched 
his  forehead  with  her  lips.  Gaunt  had  revealed  himself 
in  a  way  that  had  surprised  her  greatly,  for  it  was  impos- 
sible to  believe  that  he  was  not  in  deadly  earnest,  and  her 
heart  sank.  The  secret,  whatever  it  might  be,  was  evidently 
not  a  thing  that  could  be  swept  aside  easily  ;  it  was  not 
a  stupid  misunderstanding,  caused  by  stiff-necked  pride, 
but  something  serious. 

"  John,  I  am  sorry,  and  won't  worry  you  any  more, 
but  I  should  like  you  to  know  that  I  am  your  friend,  and 
that  you  can  count  on  me,"  she  said  with  simple  earnest- 
ness. 

There  was  a  knock  at  the  door  and  a  footman  en- 
tered. 

"  The  Baron  de  Croiseuil  wishes  to  see  you,  sir,  and 
he  asked  me  to  say  that  his  business  was  of  the  utmost  im- 
portance. Her  ladyship  instructed  me  that  she  was  '  not 
at  home '  should  the  Baron  call,  but  as  you  had  given  me 


170  THE    VOW 

no  orders,  sir,  I  thought  it  better  to  announce  the 
Baron." 

"  You  did  quite  right,  James.  I  will  see  him  here," 
Gaunt  answered,  but  Lady  Ethel  intervened  quickly. 

"  Don't  see  him,  John,"  she  cried  appealingly. 

Gaunt  looked  at  her  curiously,  and  then  glanced  at  the 
footman  who  still  waited. 


CHAPTER  XXII 

THE  Baron  de  Croiseuil  had  not  anticipated  that 
Gaunt   would   give   in  to  his  threats,  but  he 
waited  for  the  time  to  expire  before  taking  any 
further  steps.     In  the  afternoon  Sherren  came  round  to 
the  hotel  to  receive  his  instructions,  and,  in  consequence, 
the  article  duly  appeared  in  the  Daily  Comet. 

The  paper  was  brought  to  the  Baron's  bedroom  the 
following  morning,  and  when  he  read  the  references  to 
Gaunt  a  grim  smile  came  to  his  face,  but  his  attention 
was  attracted  to  the  front  page  of  the  Daily  Herald,  and 
he  uttered  an  exclamation  of  anger  when  he  had  mas- 
tered the  advertisements  that  appeared  there. 

"  So  Gaunt  has  declared  war,"  he  muttered,  and  threw 
the  paper  impatiently  away. 

But  shortly  afterwards  he  rang  the  bell,  and  ordered  a 
copy  of  each  morning  newspaper,  only  to  find  that  the 
majority  of  them  contained  similar  advertisements.  It 
was  his  intention  to  send  for  Sherren,  but  that  was  un- 
necessary, for  his  satellite  arrived  just  as  he  was  finishing 
breakfast.  For  a  long  time  they  discussed  the  situation 
gravely,  and  it  was  the  Baron  who  suggested  the  next 
move. 

"  What  is  the  name  of  the  man  who  forged  the  cable  ?  " 
he  asked  of  Sherren. 

"  Davis.  I  expect  that  he  will  arrive  at  Plymouth  this 
morning,  and  I  have  arranged  that  Weiss  should  wire  him 
to  come  to  London  at  once." 

171 


172  THE    VOW 


"  Bien.  I  wish  to  see  Weiss  this  afternoon,  and  it 
would  be  as  well  if  you  try  to  get  hold  of  Davis 
yourself." 

"  I  will  find  out  what  time  the  special  arrives  at  Pad- 
dington,  and  will  meet  him.  The  difficulty  to  my  mind 
is  how  we  can  expose  Gaunt's  share  in  the  Amanti 
business  without  giving  Weiss  away,"  Sherren  remarked 
hoarsely. 

"  You  may  safely  leave  that  in  my  hands.  By  the 
bye,  are  you  in  touch  with  the  directors  of  the  Amanti 
Mining  Company  ?  " 

"  Yes.     The  chairman  is  a  personal  friend  of  mine." 

"  Excellent.  And  do  you  think  that  you  could  persuade 
this  friend  to  do  what  you  asked  ? "  the  Baron  asked 
significantly. 

"  Yes.  But  it  might  prove  rather  costly,  but  of  course 
it  would  depend  upon  the  nature  of  the  service,"  Sherren 
replied  promptly. 

"  We  will  talk  of  it  later  on,  for  there  is  no  immediate 
hurry.  In  the  meantime  you  must  keep  up  your  attack 
on  Gaunt.  Don't  miss  a  single  opportunity,  for  at  all 
costs  we  must  damage  his  reputation.  It  would  seem 
that  he  is  now  working  hand  in  hand  with  the  secretary 
of  the  Congo  Reform  Association,  and  they  are  evidently 
planning  out  a  campaign  on  a  grand  scale.  I  fear  that 
this  man  Gaunt  is  rapidly  capturing  the  sympathy  of  the 
public,  and  it  is  essential  that  we  expose  him  so  that  any- 
thing he  says  will  be  discredited.  I  trust  you  to  do  your 
best,  and  your  reward  shall  be  commensurate  with  your 
success.  Succeed  in  crushing  Gaunt,  and  your  future  is 
assured,"  the  Baron  said  earnestly. 

"  I  will  do  all  I  can,  Baron,  but  I  must  own  to  a  certain 


THE    VOW  173 

amount  of  admiration  for  Gaunt's  pluck.  He  must  know 
that  he  is  risking  a  good  deal,  and  yet  he  does  not  seem 
to  hesitate.  There  is  no  mistaking  from  this  new  mood 
that  he  means  business,  for  those  advertisements  must 
have  cost  a  tidy  penny.  Besides " 

"  I  shall  expect  you  here  at  three  o'clock  with  Weiss," 
the  Baron  interrupted  him  sharply,  for  he  was  not  in  the 
humor  to  listen  to  platitudes. 

Sherren  accepted  his  dismissal  meekly,  for  he  was  not 
the  man  to  resent  outwardly  a  direct  insult,  so  long  as  he 
was  to  receive  a  financial  reward  that  was  sufficiently 
great,  but  to  himself  he  cursed  the  Baron  with  vigor. 

De  Croiseuil  lighted  a  cigarette  with  great  care,  and 
sat  down  to  think  out  his  next  move,  and  finally  decided 
to  call  upon  Gaunt,  although  he  knew  that  it  was  very 
probable  that  he  would  be  refused  admittance.  Indeed, 
the  footman  did  hesitate,  but  finally  asked  him  to  take 
a  seat  in  the  hall. 

"  It  will  be  unfortunate  if  madame  comes  along,"  the 
Baron  thought  as  he  waited. 

It  was  some  few  minutes  before  the  footman  returned, 
and  he  became  sure  that  his  expectations  would  be 
realized,  but  to  his  great  surprise  he  was  asked  to  go  to 
the  library. 

Gaunt  was  standing  in  the  middle  of  the  room  facing 
the  door,  and  his  expression  was  cold  and  forbid- 
ding. 

"  If  I  had  refused  to  see  you,  you  might  have  imagined 
that  I  was  afraid.  I  do  not  think  that  there  is  anything 
to  be  gained  by  this  interview,  and  I  shall  be  glad  if  you 
will  state  your  errand  in  as  few  words  as  possible,"  Gaunt 
said  grimly. 


174 THE    VOW 

The  Baron  smiled,  and  his  eyes  moved  around  the 
room  in  search  of  a  chair. 

"  You  are  not  very  polite,  man  ami.  But  even  if  we 
are  to  be  enemies  you  will  not  deny  me  the  ease  of  a 
seat.  I  am  no  longer  a  young  man,  and  —  ah  —  thank 
you,  Gaunt.  I  know  you  will  not  mind  if  I  smoke  a 
cigarette.  I  can  talk  so  much  better,  and  this  morning  I 
wish  to  be  very  eloquent." 

"  I  have  never  known  you,  Baron,  when  you  could  not 
talk,  and  that  time  will  only  arrive  when  you  are  in  your 
grave,"  Gaunt  said  drily. 

"  A  truce  to  compliments.  We  know  one  another  — 
our  faults  and  our  virtues,  and  so  we  will  come  to  busi- 
ness. Of  what  extraordinary  extravagances  you  have 
been  guilty.  These  advertisements  must  have  cost  you  a 
small  fortune,  and  for  what  purpose,  mon  cher  ?  You 
throw  your  money  away  and  the  return  you  will  receive 
is  what  —  ruin.  I  have  not  come  here  to  threaten,  but 
merely  to  state  my  intentions.  If  you  persist  in  this 
mad  course  it  will  be  my  painful  duty  to  act  at  once. 
Every  dishonorable  deed  in  your  life  shall  be  made  pub- 
lic and  there  is  a  ghastly  array  to  your  discredit.  Not 
only  will  there  be  those  things  in  the  Congo  of  which  I 
have  already  reminded  you,  but  there  are  many  little 
affairs  of  England  —  many  little  deals  by  which  you  have 
enriched  yourself  that  will  not  bear  the  light  of  day.  It 
will  pain  me  to  make  these  exposures,  but  you  yourself 
will  be  the  first  to  see  that  they  are  necessary.  It  is  my 
painful  duty  to  discredit  you  to  the  world,  and  I  shall 
succeed,"  the  Baron  wound  up  with  quiet  confidence. 

"  You  appear  to  forget  one  thing,  Baron.  If  I  cease 
to  speak,  there  are  others  who  can  take  my  place.  You 


THE    VOW  175 

may  ruin  my  character,  but  that  will  not  smother  the  cry 
for  reform.  You  say  that  we  know  one  another,  but  I 
think  you  are  wilfully  blind  to  my  character.  I  have 
vowed  to  fight  you  until  the  natives  are  free,  and  receive 
equitable  treatment,  and  nothing  shall  turn  me  back,  now 
I  have  once  started.  You  can  do  your  worst,"  Gaunt 
cried  contemptuously. 

"  And  that  is  your  final  word  ?  "  the  Baron  said  with  a 
sigh. 

"  Yes.  It  will  be  well  if  you  do  not  call  here  again 
for " 

"  There  is  no  need  to  finish  the  sentence.  Let  us,  at 
least,  retain  the  appearance  of  politeness.  You  English 
are  so  brutal  in  your  enmities.  Although  I  am  about  to 
injure  you  seriously,  I  like  you  personally,  Gaunt,  and 
apart  from  this  sordid  business,  I  shall  always  be  glad  to 
meet  you.  So  you  have  decided.  I  am  very  sorry,  my 
friend,  for  I  am  afraid  that  Lady  Mildred  will " 

"  Be  silent,  and  go,"  Gaunt  cried  harshly. 

"  I  hate  to  war  upon  a  lady,  for  she  will  suffer  with 
you,  and " 

«  Go." 

There  was  a  threat  in  Gaunt's  voice,  and  the  Baron 
perceptibly  hastened  his  step,  and  his  nether  lip  trembled 
slightly.  The  footman  threw  open  the  door,  and  he 
hastened  to  cross  the  hall,  but  when  he  reached  the 
pavement  he  stood  there  for  a  few  moments.  Then  he 
strode  slowly  towards  Piccadilly  but  had  not  gone  very 
far  before  he  heard  his  name  called  from  behind. 

He  turned  quickly  and  uncovered  his  head. 

"  Madam,"  he  said,  and  bowed  politely  to  the  beautiful 
girl  who  had  joined  him. 


176  THE    VOW 

"  I  am  Lady  Ethel  Blythe." 

"  Ah !  I  knew  your  sister,  but  in  those  days  I  think 
you  must  have  been  at  school,"  he  said  pleasantly,  and 
there  was  unconcealed  admiration  in  his  eyes. 

"  Will  you  not  come  into  the  park  ?  I  wish  to  speak  to 
you,"  Lady  Ethel  remarked,  nervously. 

She  had  acted  on  the  impulse  of  the  moment,  and  was 
already  beginning  to  regret  the  step  that  she  had  taken, 
but  the  Baron  was  only  too  glad  of  the  chance  of  gaining 
information,  and  so  promptly  led  the  way  across  the 
road,  keeping  up  a  steady  flow  of  conversation  until  they 
reached  a  row  of  chairs. 

"  Won't  you  sit  down,  Lady  Ethel  ?  I  do  not  think  it 
is  too  cold,  for  your  furs  will  keep  you  warm,"  he  said 
suavely,  and  again  she  encountered  the  look  of  admira- 
tion in  his  eyes. 

"  Why  have  you  quarrelled  with  Mr.  Gaunt  ?  "  she  de- 
manded suddenly. 

It  was  with  the  idea  of  helping  her  sister  that  she  had 
intercepted  the  Baron,  and  already  she  realized  that  she 
would  receive  no  consideration  from  this  man  whom  in- 
stinct told  her  to  distrust.  Suddenly  she  grew  afraid, 
and  continued  hurriedly :  "  I  think  I  have  made  a  mis- 
take, Baron,  and  will  go.  Forgive  me  for  having  de- 
tained you." 

"  Stay,  Lady  Ethel.  Please  let  us  have  a  little  talk,  for 
I  am  sure  that  you  may  be  the  means  of  stopping  Mr. 
Gaunt  from  ruining  himself;  that  is,  if  you  have  any  in- 
fluence with  your  sister.  My  position  is  a  particularly 
unfortunate  one,  for  I  was  once  a  friend  of  your  family, 
and  Gaunt  is  compelling  me  to  become  his  enemy." 

•"What  is  all  this  wretched  bother  about?    What  is 


THE    VOW  177 


Mr.  Gaunt  attacking  the  Congo  for?"  she  asked 
eagerly. 

"  If  you  could  find  out  the  answer  to  that  last  ques- 
tion, I  should  be  eternally  your  debtor.  Cannot  you  and 
I  become  allies  ?  I  give  you  my  word  of  honor  that  I 
am  anxious  to  be  Gaunt's  friend,  if  only  he  will  permit 
me  to  be.  Of  course,  I  can  understand  that  your  sister 
must  feel  bitterly  the  insane  course  which  her  husband  is 
taking  ?  "  he  suggested,  and  she  did  not  notice  the  eager 
look  in  his  eyes. 

"  She  naturally  resents  it,  and  is  very  unhappy,"  was 
her  impulsive  answer. 

"  I  can  readily  understand  that,  and  in  my  opinion  she 
is  quite  justified  in  resenting  it  But  I  do  hope  that  they 
have  not  already  seriously  quarreled." 

She  glanced  at  him  suspiciously  for  she  could  detect  a 
note  of  insincerity  in  his  voice. 

"  I  have  no  right  to  discuss  my  sister's  affairs,"  she 
said  coldly. 

However,  the  Baron  had  already  obtained  the  infor- 
mation that  he  sought,  but  took  good  care  that  Lady 
Ethel  should  not  see  his  satisfaction. 

"  May  I  ask  you  to  use  your  influence  both  with  your 
sister  and  with  Gaunt  to  persuade  the  latter  to  abandon 
this  wretched  agitation  ?  I  am  sure  you  will  do  so  when 
I  say  that  he  is  likely  to  suffer  both  in  pocket  and  repu- 
tation, if  he  does  not  do  so.  I  won't  detain  you  any 
longer,  Lady  Ethel,  but  if  at  any  time  you  should  wish 
to  communicate  with  me,  I  am  staying  at  the  Ritz." 

Lady  Ethel  was  eager  to  get  away,  but  her  face  grew 
white,  for  approaching  her  rapidly  was  Edward  Drake. 
The  Baron,  too,  saw  him,  and  smiled  deprecatingly. 


178  THE    VOW 


"  Lady  Ethel,  I  shall  be  glad  to  take  you  home.  You 
must  know  that  both  your  sister  and  Mr.  Gaunt  have 
given  orders  that  this  gentleman  is  not  to  be  allowed  to 
enter  their  house  again,"  Drake  said  coldly,  and  stared 
at  the  Belgian,  his  eyes  full  of  hostility. 

"  Then  I  have  the  honor  of  wishing  you  good-day." 

And  so  saying  the  Baron  raised  his  hat  and  strolled 
away. 

Lady  Ethel  was  silent  as  they  walked  along,  and 
Drake  could  not  decide  if  she  were  angry  with  him  or 
herself,  but  he  came  to  the  conclusion  that  she  needed  a 
lesson. 


CHAPTER  XXIII 

THE  Baron  was  quite  pleased  at  his  encounter 
with  Lady  Ethel,  for  it  was  well  to  know  that 
Gaunt  and  his  wife  were  not  on  good  terms,  and 
it  ought  not  to  be  a  difficult  matter  to  widen  the  breach. 
Upon  arriving  at  the  hotel  several  telegrams  were 
handed  to  him,  and  a  frown  came  to  his  face  as  he  read 
the  cipher  message  from  Brussels  which  urged  him  to 
stop  Gaunt's  campaign  at  all  costs.  But  still  he  did  not 
allow  it  to  interfere  with  his  enjoyment  of  a  carefully 
selected  lunch.  The  Burgundy  was  warmed  to  the  exact 
temperature  which  suited  his  palate,  and  when  the  coffee 
was  served  he  felt  quite  equal  to  the  coming  interview 
with  Mr.  Julian  Weiss.  He  was  dozing  in  an  armchair 
before  the  fire  when  his  visitor  was  announced,  and  he 
rose  to  greet  the  Jew  with  that  suave  pleasant  manner 
for  which  he  was  famed. 

"  I  am  indeed  pleased  to  see  you.  Of  course  you  will 
smoke,  and  I  can  confidently  recommend  those  Corona- 
.  Coronas." 

The  Baron  himself  did  not  care  for  cigars,  but  he  was  an 
excellent  judge  of  them,  and  knew  their  value  as  a  gift  to 
one  whom  he  wished  to  place  on  good  terms  with  himself. 

"  Sherren  came  to  me  and  said  that  you  wished  to  see 
me  on  most  important  business.  As  you  know,  I  am  al- 
ways prepared  to  consider  a  scheme  in  which  I  can  see  a 
reasonable  profit,"  Weiss  said,  in  his  rather  pompous 

manner,  and  then  took  a  long  draw  at  the  cigar. 

179 


i8o  THE    VOW 


"  It  may  disappoint  you  to  hear  that  there  is  no 
money  to  be  made  out  of  our  little  talk." 

"  My  time  is  valuable,  Baron,  and  if  I  had 
known " 

"  But  I  think  that  there  are  other  things  that  appeal  to 
you  as  well  as  money.  You  are  not  the  man  to  forget  a 
bad  turn,  and  I  understand  that  Gaunt  rather  bested  you 
in  a  recent  deal." 

"  Bested  —  he  swindled  me,"  Weiss  cried  hotly. 

The  Baron  smiled  faintly,  as  he  heard  the  Jew's  be- 
trayal of  his  nationality,  for  in  his  anger  the  careful  pro- 
nunciation had  been  forgotten. 

"  If  your  business  concerns  Gaunt,  and  there  is  a 
chance  of  getting  level  with  him,  then  I  am  with  you, 
money  or  no  money." 

"  I  imagined  that  would  be  your  attitude.  You  say 
that  Gaunt  swindled  you,  and  I've  the  same  complaint  to 
make  against  him.  Only,  in  my  case,  he  has  betrayed 
those  who  were  his  friends,  and  who  had  helped  ^him  to 
his  wealth.  Now,  I  want  you  to  tell  me  the  whole  of 
the  circumstances  of  that  deal  in  Amanti  shares,"  the 
Baron  said  quickly. 

There  was  a  quick  glance  from  Weiss  that  was  full  of 
suspicion. 

"  Of  course,  anything  that  you  say  I  shall  hold  in  the 
strictest  confidence,  and  I  shall  take  no  step  without 
consulting  you,"  the  Baron  added  quickly. 

"  All  right,  Baron.  I  know  that  you  aren't  over  par- 
ticular yourself,  and  you  won't  be  shocked  at  a  little  sharp 
practice,"  Weiss  said  with  a  laugh,  that  grated  on  the 
Belgian's  nerves. 

"  I  got  hold  of  a  man  named  Davis,  and  it  was  arranged 


THE    VOW  181 

that  he  should  cable  home  a  report  in  his  manager's 
name  to  the  effect  that  they  had  struck  gold  of  a  high 
grade.  I  didn't  want  my  name  to  appear  in  the  business, 
so  I  agreed  with  Gaunt  to  work  the  market.  It  came 
off,  and  Gaunt  made  his  pile,  but  when  I  went  to  claim 
my  share  he  practically  told  me  to  go  to  the  devil,"  Weiss 
wound  up  angrily,  for  he  still  smarted  to  think  of  the 
way  he  had  been  "  done." 

"  And  to  add  insult  to  injury,"  he  continued,  "  the 
blackguard  sent  a  check  in  my  name  to  the  King's 
Hospital  Fund  for  the  amount  I  ought  to  have  received." 

"  Have  you  any  idea  why  he  did  that  ?  It  was  very 
strange,  for  it  could  not  have  been  on  account  of  the 
money  that  he  refused  to  pay  you,"  the  Baron  remarked 
thoughtfully. 

"  I  don't  care  a  damn  about  his  reasons.  I  want  my 
twenty  odd  thousand  pounds,  and  I'll  have  it,  or  Gaunt 
shall  pay  me  in  some  other  way,"  the  Jew  cried  furiously, 
and  jumping  to  his  feet  commenced  to  pace  rapidly  to 
and  fro. 

"  I  can  see  that  you  are  going  for  him  in  the  papers, 
and  I'll  give  you  as  much  information  as  you  can  want 
about  various  shady  deals  in  which  he  has  been  concerned. 
And  I'll  give  you  the  evidence  to  prove  'em  up  to  the 
hilt.  I  schwear  I'll  make  the  city  too  hot  for  Mr.  John 
Gaunt  before  I've  done  with  him." 

"  Didn't  it  turn  out  that  there  really  was  a  valuable 
find  of  gold  ?  " 

"  So  they  reported,  but  I  have  just  heard  that  the  re- 
port was  incorrect,  although  the  manager  out  there  evi- 
dently believed  in  it.  When  I  left  the  office  Amantis 
were  selling  at  five  shillings  with  no  buyers.  I  bought 


i82 THE    VOW 

myself  when  they  were  at  two  pounds,  and  so  I  got  left 
again,"  Weiss  said  savagely. 

"  Very  unfortunate.  I  do  not  wonder  that  you  were 
angry.  By  the  bye,  have  you  any  evidence  that  Gaunt 
had  knowledge  that  the  cable  sent  by  Davis  was  forged  ?  " 
the  Baron  asked  casually. 

"  Yes.     Read  through  this  letter." 

De  Croiseuil  rapidly  scanned  the  few  lines  but  his  face 
gave  no  sign  of  the  satisfaction  that  he  felt. 

"  That  seems  quite  clear.  I  wonder  if  you  would  mind 
if  I  kept  this  letter?"  He  placed  it  carefully  in  his 
pocketbook  without  waiting  for  an  answer,  and  then 
continued  more  quietly. 

"  I  shall  be  glad  if  you  will  send  me  details  of  any 
other  shady  transactions  by  Gaunt,  and  I  will  see  that 
they  are  made  use  of  at  once.  Now  I  think  we  have  fin- 
ished, and  I  expect  you  will  be  glad  to  get  back  to  the  City. 
Take  another  cigar." 

"  You  will  not  allow  my  name  to  appear  ?  "  Weiss  said 
uneasily. 

"  My  dear  sir,  I  am  a  gentleman,  and  —  but  you  can 
trust  me.  Good-day,  and  thanks." 

When  Weiss  had  gone  the  Baron  sent  out  for  the 
evening  papers,  and  once  more  settled  himself  in  comfort 
before  the  fire,  but  as  he  read  a  frown  came  to  his  face, 
and  he  uttered  an  imprecation. 

The  same  advertisement  again  stared  him  in  the  face, 
and  it  was  natural  that  the  public  should  take  an  interest 
in  the  spending  of  such  large  sums  of  money,  even  if  the 
wrongs  of  the  natives  of  the  Congo  failed  to  interest  the 
"  man  in  the  street."  Moreover,  it  was  becoming  realized 
that  Gaunt  was  deeply  in  earnest  and  had  deliberately 


THE    VOW  183 


started  to  fight  the  powerful  clique  in  Brussels.  The 
millionaire's  well-known  character  naturally  increased  the 
interest,  and  there  could  be  no  doubt  that  the  agitation 
would  soon  extend  so  that  its  suppression  would  become 
an  increasingly  difficult  task. 

In  great  staring  letters  there  was  an  announcement 
that  Gaunt  was  to  address  a  men's  meeting  at  the  Royal 
Albert  Hall. 

"  And  the  man  will  fill  the  building,"  the  Baron  mut- 
tered uneasily. 

It  was  no  small  thing  for  which  he  was  fighting.  It 
must  be  remembered  that  he  and  his  friends  received  a 
large  income,  which  would  cease  immediately,  should  the 
reform  be  forced  upon  them.  Just  as  soon  as  the  natives 
were  given  justice,  the  rubber  would  cease  to  come,  at 
any  rate  until  the  country  had  had  time  to  recover  itself 
from  years  of  merciless  persecution.  There  were  thou- 
sands of  Belgians  whose  livelihood  depended  upon  the 
continuation  of  the  present  regime,  and  in  the  event  of 
its  ceasing,  Belgium  would  swarm  with  those  men,  most 
of  them  undesirables  whose  morals  were  utterly  ruined 
by  the  lives  they  had  led  in  the  Congo. 

And  they  had  been  going  along  so  smoothly  until  the 
intervention  of  Gaunt.  The  death  of  King  Leopold  had 
promised  to  give  them  an  indefinite  prolongation  of  their 
reign,  for  his  successor  was  a  man  of  amiable  character, 
who  lived  a  clean  life,  and  they  could  shelter  themselves 
beneath  his  name.  The  great  desire  of  Europe  would  be 
to  give  King  Albert  an  opportunity  of  showing  what  he 
could  do,  for  it  was  not  realized  that  he  possessed  but 
titular  power.  The  late  King  had  been  an  absolute 
monarch,  and  his  conduct  had  almost  driven  the  people 


184 THE    VOW 

to  seek  a  Republic ;  so  that  it  was  necessary  for  King 
Albert  to  tread  warily,  and  become  the  most  constitu- 
tional of  sovereigns. 

Of  the  Belgian  Parliament  the  Baron  had  no  fear ;  there 
was  no  party  that  desired  to  see  reform  in  the  Congo 
save  a  few  members  who  really  understood  the  conditions 
of  affairs  in  the  Free  State. 

For  years  King  Leopold  had  understood  that  the  only 
possible  means  by  which  he  could  be  stopped  from 
garnering  his  tainted  gold  was  by  the  awakening  of 
England  and  the  United  States  to  the  truth.  He  had 
recognized  that  these  free  people  were  sound  at  heart, 
loathing  all  persecution,  and  that  should  they  once  real- 
ize the  brutal  truth,  their  righteous  indignation  would 
insist  upon  the  immediate  freeing  of  the  natives  from  a 
diabolical  tyranny. 

And  now  the  danger  of  a  great  awakening  loomed 
ahead. 

The  mask  fell  from  the  Baron's  face,  as  these  thoughts 
passed  through  his  mind,  and  there  was  a  malignant 
look  in  his  eyes. 

"  I  will  break  the  man,"  he  muttered  vindictively. 

Gone  was  the  suave  man  of  the  world  and  the  brutal 
savage  was  revealed.  But  at  the  sound  of  a  knock  at 
the  door,  his  face  changed  and  a  smile  was  forced  to  his 
lips. 

"  Oh,  it's  you,  Sherren.  What  news  have  you  ?  "  he 
asked  pleasantly. 

"  I  met  Davis  at  Paddington,  and  I've  got  his  address." 

"  Good.  Here's  a  little  document  that  you  might  like 
to  read,"  the  Baron  remarked  and  handed  over  the  letter 
given  to  him  by  Weiss. 


THE    VOW 185 

Sherren  looked  at  him  admiringly,  when  he  had  mas- 
tered its  contents. 

"  I  wonder  that  Weiss  cared  to  part  with  it,  but  I  sup- 
pose that  he  was  blinded  by  his  rage  against  Gaunt. 
This  little  document  simplifies  matters,  and  ought  to  be 
very  useful." 

"  Weiss  is  sending  on  further  material  against  Gaunt, 
and  I  shall  be  glad  if  you  will  sift  it  thoroughly,  for  it's 
important  that  we  don't  make  any  mistakes." 

The  Baron  turned  to  the  waiter  who  had  entered,  and 
took  a  telegram  from  the  silver  salver,  which  he  tore 
open  impatiently : 

"  Am  forwarding  Marillier  documents.    Ad- 
vise that  you  proceed  without  delay" 

"  There  is  no  answer,"  he  said,  and  then  lapsed  into 
silence,  for  the  message  gave  him  food  for  thought. 

Sherren  was  glancing  through  the  evening  papers,  and 
now  and  then  stopped  to  make  a  note,  which  he  intended 
to  use  in  an  article  which  he  was  preparing  for  the  next 
day. 

"•  Eh  bien.  I  think  we  have  finished  for  the  present, 
Sherren.  I  would  suggest  that  you  see  your  friend,  the 
chairman  of  the  Amanti  Mining  Company,  and  show  him 
that  letter.  You  know  what  to  advise  him  to  do,"  the 
Baron  said  significantly. 

"  But  what  about  Weiss  ?  His  name  is  compromised, 
and " 

"  I  fear  that  this  is  not  the  moment  for  delicate 
scruples.  Of  course,  I  should  like  to  protect  Mr.  Weiss 
in  every  way  that  is  possible,  but " 


\S6 THE    VOW 

He  shrugged  his  shoulders  expressively. 

"  But  if  Weiss  must  suffer  with  Gaunt,  it  is  unfortu- 
nate ;  but  I  shouldn't  consider  the  chief  rabbi  himself  if 
it  would  interfere  with  my  attack  on  Gaunt.  I  shall 
await  your  report  with  much  interest.  Good-afternoon." 

And  the  Baron  took  from  a  silver  box  on  the  table  a 
cigarette  which  he  carefully  lighted.  Then  he  drew  a 
deep  breath. 

"  Now  I  think  we  are  coming  to  close  quarters,  and 
we  shall  see  a  pretty  fight  —  but " 

The  Baron's  face  became  moody. 


CHAPTER  XXIV 

IF  John  Gaunt  had  deliberately  planned  to  fan  his 
wife's  dawning  love  into  a  fierce  flame,  he  could 
not  have  acted  in  a  manner  more  calculated  to 
bring  this  about,  for  when  Lady  Mildred  saw  that  he  was 
deliberately  avoiding  every  opportunity  of  intimate  con- 
versation, she  became  utterly  miserable,  although  she 
had  led  him  to  believe  that  this  was  what  she  herself 
desired. 

It  was  strange  to  her,  this  feeling  of  interest  in  her 
husband,  and  all  day  she  found  herself  wondering  what 
he  was  doing.  At  first  she  did  not  regret  the  attitude 
which  she  had  taken  up,  but  slowly  it  was  being  re- 
vealed to  her  that  all  other  considerations  were  as  nought 
when  compared  with  love.  With  this  realization  there 
came  a  feeling  of  timidity  which  restrained  her  impulse 
to  go  to  Gaunt  and  tell  him  what  was  in  her  heart. 

What  mattered  his  actions,  however  strange  —  what 
mattered  his  damaged  reputation,  so  long  as  he  loved  her 
with  the  deep  passion  of  which  she  had  been  permitted 
to  catch  a  faint  glimpse.  She  would  force  herself  to  for- 
get the  many  mysterious  things  which  surrounded  her, 
and  would  only  remember  that  he  was  her  husband,  and 
father  of  the  child  that  she  was  rapidly  growing  to 
worship. 

Of  one  thing  she  was  convinced,  that  there  was  noth- 
ing mean  in  Gaunt's  nature.  If  he  had  been  guilty  of 

187 


i88  THE    VOW 

conduct  which  he  was  endeavoring  to  hide,  and  which 
was  preying  on  his  mind,  it  was  nothing  of  which  he 
need  feel  ashamed ;  and  thus  it  will  be  seen  that  Lady 
Mildred  did  not  yet  understand  the  nature  of  the  man 
that  she  had  married. 

On  the  morning  that  the  Baron  had  paid  his  second 
visit,  she  had  been  communing  with  herself,  and  had  de- 
cided to  put  an  end  to  the  estrangement  that  existed, 
but  when  she  went  down  to  lunch,  her  husband  was  not 
there. 

Her  sister  and  Edward  Drake  were  present,  and  it 
very  soon  became  clear  to  her  that  the  atmosphere  was 
electrical,  for  each  of  them  avoided  addressing  any  re- 
mark to  the  other. 

Drake  confined  his  attention  to  Lady  Mildred,  and  the 
latter  immediately  began  to  imagine  that  he  had  pro- 
posed marriage  to  Lady  Ethel,  and  had  been  refused. 

At  last  the  uncomfortable  meal  came  to  an  end,  and 
Lady  Mildred  rose  from  the  table. 

"  Will  you  come  to  my  room,  dear  ? "  she  said,  and 
Lady  Ethel  followed  her  obediently. 

"  What  has  happened  ? "  Lady  Mildred  asked  when 
they  were  seated. 

"  I  hate  him,  he  is  a  beast,"  Lady  Ethel  said  vindic- 
tively. 

"  I  suppose  you  m«an  Mr.  Drake.  What  has  the  poor 
man  done  ?  " 

"  He  has  been  very  rude,  and  I  believe  he  looks  upon 
me  as  a  child,"  she  cried  passionately. 

"  You  are  not  much  more  than  a  child,  Ethel.  But 
what  is  it  all  about?"  Lady  Mildred  asked  with  an 
indulgent  smile. 


THE    VOW  189 

"  I  really  did  it  for  the  best.  When  the  Baron  left 
this  morning  I  followed,  and  went  with  him  to  the 
park." 

"  It  was  a  stupid  thing  to  do.  Baron  de  Croiseuil  is 
not  a  desirable  acquaintance,"  Lady  Mildred  answered 
disapprovingly. 

"  I  only  went  for  your  sake,  Mildred.  I  could  see  that 
you  and  John  were  miserable,  and  I  guessed  that  it  was 
all  owing  to  the  Baron,  so  thought  I  might  help." 

Lady  Ethel  was  crying  quietly,  so  her  sister  sup- 
pressed the  angry  words  that  were  near  her  lips,  and 
kissed  her  tenderly. 

"  There  is  no  reason  why  you  should  make  such  a  fuss 
about  it,"  she  said  gently. 

"  I  never  imagined  that  Mr.  Drake  could  be  so  rude. 
He  told  me  that  I  was  a  meddlesome  little  busybody," 
Lady  Ethel  said  hotly. 

"  They  were  rather  strong  words." 

"  And  I  really  didn't  mean  to  tell  the  Baron  that  you 
and  John  had  quarreled  ;  it  slipped  out." 

"  Mr.  Drake  was  quite  right,"  Lady  Mildred  broke  in 
vehemently.  "  Besides,  it  is  untrue  that  my  husband 
and  I  have  quarreled.  I  love  him  dearly." 

"  Well,  you  have  a  funny  way  of  showing  your 
affection,"  Lady  Ethel  broke  in,  and  then  began  to  sob 
in  earnest. 

Even  at  school  she  had  been  thoroughly  spoilt,  for  her 
winning  ways  had  endeared  her  to  all,  and  Drake's 
strong  words  had  come  as  a  shock.  Now  her  sister  was 
adding  to  her  misery,  but  she  quickly  recovered  herself 
and  sailed  out  of  the  room  with  rather  a  pitiable  attempt 
at  dignity. 


190  THE    VOW 


Lady  Mildred  was  annoyed  at  the  occurrence,  but  she 
had  more  weighty  thoughts  to  occupy  her  mind,  and 
could  only  wonder  how  John  would  receive  the  advances 
which  she  had  determined  to  make.  To  her  great 
disappointment  he  did  not  return,  and  so  soon  after  six 
o'clock  she  commenced  to  dress  for  dinner.  Latterly 
she  had  taken  but  little  interest  in  her  toilet,  and  her 
maid  was  surprised  and  pleased  by  the  care  she  took  in 
choosing  her  gown.  At  last  she  was  satisfied,  and 
critically  examined  her  reflection  in  the  long  mirror. 
The  least  vain  of  women,  she  knew  that  she  was 
looking  her  best,  and  when  she  entered  the  drawing- 
room,  excitement  had  brought  a  becoming  touch  of 
color  to  her  cheeks. 

It  was  a  few  minutes  before  Gaunt  entered,  and  gave  a 
quick  glance  around  the  room. 

"  I  haven't  much  time  to  spare,"  he  said  hurriedly,  and 
as  he  spoke  dinner  was  announced. 

During  the  meal  Lady  Ethel  was  particularly 
gracious  to  Captain  Drake,  and  practically  ignored  his 
brother. 

"  Drake,  we  must  be  going,"  Gaunt  said  after  a  glance 
at  his  watch. 

Lady  Mildred  also  rose  and  accompanied  them  to  the 
hall. 

"  Will  you  be  very  late,  John  ?  "  she  said  nervously. 

"  No.  I  shall  be  back  as  soon  as  the  meeting  is 
over,"  he  answered,  and  could  not  keep  a  note  of  surprise 
from  his  voice. 

"  Then  will  you  come  to  my  room  ?  "  she  said  in  a  low 
voice. 

"  Very  well,  dear,"  he  answered,  and  gave  her  a  quick 


THE    VOW 191 

look,  but  her  face  was  turned  away,  and  he  uttered  a 
faint  sigh  which  failed  to  reach  her  ears. 

Lady  Ethel  had  followed  more  slowly,  and  she  did  not 
appear  to  notice  Edward  Drake  who  was  standing  near. 

"  I  hope  you  have  recovered,"  he  remarked  with  a 
smile.  "  Perhaps  I  was  a  little  hard,  but  you  really 
deserved  all  that  I  said.  I  can  see  that  you  are  still 
angry  with  me,  but  if  you  take  a  night  to  think  it  over, 
you  will  arrive  at  the  conclusion  that  I  was  right." 

"  I  was  not  aware  that  Mr.  Gaunt  had  appointed  you 
father  confessor  to  the  whole  family.  Mr.  Drake,  you 
really  take  too  much  upon  yourself,"  she  said  haughtily. 

"  Come  along,"  Gaunt  cried  impatiently. 

For  a  time  Lady  Ethel  sat  with  her  sister,  but  she  was 
ill  at  ease,  and  at  an  early  hour  expressed  her  intention 
of  going  to  bed.  Lady  Mildred  was  relieved  by  her 
departure,  for  she  wished  to  be  alone  with  her  thoughts. 

A  clock  chimed  ten  o'clock,  and  she  went  to  her  bed- 
room, where  she  summoned  her  maid  and  clothed  her- 
self in  a  dressing-gown  covered  with  clouds  of  filmy  lace 
that  was  priceless.  Every  jewel  was  removed  except  her 
wedding-ring,  and  at  last  she  was  satisfied  with  her 
appearance. 

"  If  it  were  my  last  mistress,  I  should  say  that  my 
lady  was  about  to  receive  her  lover,"  was  the  maid's 
unspoken  thought. 

"  May  I  say  that  my  lady  is  very  beautiful  to-night  ?  " 
the  maid  remarked  respectfully,  and  she  regarded  her 
mistress  with  the  eye  of  an  expert. 

It  was  the  first  time  that  she  had  dared  venture  upon 
a  compliment,  and  she  half  expected  a  rebuke  as  a 
reward,  but  Lady  Mildred  only  smiled  faintly. 


192 THE    VOW 

"  There  are  some  deep  red  roses,  my  lady.  At  your 
breast  they  would  give  the  one  finishing  touch  that 
makes  perfect.  May  I  fetch  them?"  the  maid  asked 
eagerly. 

"Am  I  a  simple  little  fool?"  Lady  Mildred  asked 
herself  when  she  once  again  entered  the  room  to  which 
she  had  invited  her  husband. 

Time  passed  slowly,  and  once  or  twice  she  took  up  a 
book  only  to  throw  it  down  again  with  a  sigh  of  im- 
patience. Eleven  o'clock  struck,  and  she  began  to 
wonder  if  he  would  fail  to  come. 

But  at  last  there  was  a  knock  at  the  door,  and  in 
answer  to  her  call  John  Gaunt  strode  into  the  room. 
His  face  was  drawn  and  he  had  the  appearance  of  a  man 
who  was  exhausted  physically  and  mentally.  But  his 
eyes  lighted  up  with  admiration  and  passionate  love 
when  they  rested  on  his  wife. 

"  Sit  down,  dear,"  she  said  nervously.  "  You  look 
very  tired.  Did  you  have  a  successful  meeting?" 

As  she  spoke  she  took  up  a  cushion,  and  placed  it  be- 
neath his  head. 

"  I  don't  often  wait  on  you,  John,"  she  said  in  a  low 
voice. 

He  could  not  keep  the  wonder  from  his  face,  for  never 
had  she  been  so  gentle,  and  so  entirely  fascinating.  But 
he  remembered  his  determination,  and  kept  a  tight  hold 
upon  himself. 

Then  she  sank  down  on  the  rug  beside  him  and  rested 
her  elbows  on  his  knees.  At  first  her  eyes  were  cast 
down,  but  suddenly  she  raised  them  and  looked  straight 
at  him. 

"  Mildred,"  he  whispered  hoarsely. 


THE    VOW  193 


"  John,  dear,  let  me  tell  you  what  is  in  my  heart," 
she  began  tremulously.  "  I  don't  think  that  I  am  the 

same  woman  that  you  married,  for  I  feel Forgive 

me  if  I  say  a  lot  about  myself,  for  that  is  the  only  way 
in  which  I  can  make  you  understand.  When  we  mar- 
ried, I  did  not  care  for  you,  I'm  not  sure  if  I  even  liked 
you,  for  at  times  you  made  me  afraid.  However,  I  was 
watching  you  and  learning.  But  I  was  blind  and  selfish 
until  baby  came,  and  it  was  not  till  then  that  I  began  to 
understand  something  of  what  life  can  contain." 

John  Gaunt  scarcely  dared  to  breathe  as  he  listened. 
He  knew  how  deeply  she  must  be  moved  tc  reveal  her- 
self so  openly  to  him. 

"  Since  baby  came  it  has  been  a  gradual  awakening. 
Even  when  I  asked  you  to  take  me  away  on  the  yacht, 
I  did  not  fully  understand.  I  only  knew  that  my  feel- 
ings towards  you  had  changed,  and  that  you  occupied 
my  thoughts  almost  entirely." 

As  she  continued  her  voice  took  a  deeper  tone,  and 
her  eyes  were  not  removed  from  his,  so  that  he  could  see 
their  changing  expression  and  gathering  passion. 

"  And  then  you  refused  to  go  away  with  me,  and  I 
was  deeply  hurt,  for  I  naturally  thought  that  you  did  not 
want  me.  I  even  feared  that  I  had  lost  your  love,  and 
it  was  agony  —  agony." 

He  could  feel  the  trembling  of  her  arms,  and  he  longed 
to  clasp  her  to  him.  But  dare  he  do  so,  with  his  past 
unconfessed  ?  He  had  decided  that  he  would  not  again 
seek  her  love  until  he  could  go  to  her  with  clean  hands, 
and  yet 

"  But  soon  it  was  revealed  to  me  that  the  world  was 
nothing.  If  you  have  sinned  in  the  past,  if  you  fear  that 


194  THE    VOW 

people  will  make  charges  against  you,  that  could  not  af- 
fect you  and  me,  John."  Her  voice  was  tremulous,  and 
there  was  a  wild  appeal  in  her  eyes. 

"  John,  it  is  difficult  to  say  the  words,  but  I  love  you, 
body  and  soul,  even  as  I  believe  that  you  love  me." 

She  rose  to  her  feet  and  looked  down  at  him  with  an 
air  of  pride  in  this  declaration  of  her  love. 

"  All  petty  considerations  have  vanished.  I  make  no 
conditions.  I  ask  no  favor  of  you,  save  that  you  shall 
love  me." 

He  remained  silent,  and  a  great  fear  clutched  at  her 
heart. 

"  John,"  she  whispered  faintly. 

With  a  cry  of  passion  he  took  her  in  his  arms  and 
crushed  her  to  him. 

"  Mildred." 

And  her  lips  sought  his,  for  the  first  kiss  of  acknowl- 
edged love. 


CHAPTER  XXV 

THE  Earl  of  Lynton  was  not  in  the  best  of  tem- 
pers as  he  entered  the  boat  train  at  Dover,  on 
his  way  to  London.  An  attache  to  the  British 
embassy  in  Paris,  he  had  received  peremptory  instructions 
by  cable  from  Sir  Keith  Hamilton,  the  secretary  of  state 
for  foreign  affairs,  to  proceed  to  London  and  report  him- 
self at  the  foreign  office,  immediately  upon  his  arrival. 

It  was  natural  that  he  should  be  curious  as  to  the  rea- 
son why  his  presence  should  be  so  urgently  required. 
Had  it  been  a  couple  of  years  ago  he  would  have  im- 
agined that  his  many  creditors  had  been  making  them- 
selves objectionable  to  the  authorities,  but  his  sister  Mil- 
dred's marriage  to  John  Gaunt  had,  once  for  all,  removed 
that  sort  of  worry  from  his  life. 

The  Earl  was  a  very  ordinary  sort  of  man  of  average 
intelligence,  but  with  a  keen  capacity  for  the  enjoyment 
of  life.  To  do  him  justice  he  had  been  reluctant  that  his 
sister  should  marry  Gaunt,  and,  in  spite  of  the  great  pe- 
cuniary advantages  attached  to  the  match,  he  had  not 
said  a  word  to  influence  her  decision. 

Almost  immediately  after  the  marriage,  he  had  re- 
ceived his  appointment  to  Paris,  and  since  then  had  paid 
very  few  visits  to  England.  Neither  Lady  Mildred  nor 
himself  were  good  correspondents,  but  he  had  gathered 
the  impression  that  she  was  quite  content  with  her  lot. 

During  the  last  few  days  he  had  noticed  reports  in  the 
French  papers  connecting  Gaunt  with  the  Congo  agita- 


196  THE    VOW 


tion,  but  it  was  not  until  the  journey  to  London  that  he 
realized  there  was  anything  serious  in  the  matter. 

It  chanced  that  there  was  a  lack  of  interesting  news  at 
the  moment  and  editors  had  seized  upon  John  Gaunt  to 
make  the  sensation  of  the  hour.  The  Daily  Comet  had 
started  its  special  commissioner  to  work,  and  that  gifted 
penman  could  raise  a  storm  where  all  was  peace,  and  he 
was  accordingly  paid  the  salary  of  a  cabinet  minister. 

Now  Lord  Lynton's  one  failing  was  an  overweening 
pride  in  his  name,  and  he  felt  hurt  that  Gaunt's  action 
should  have  brought  about  those  disgraceful  comments 
which  would  naturally  reflect  upon  his  sister,  for  the 
Comet  was  suggesting  that  his  brother-in-law  was  a  most 
undesirable  person ;  and  so  the  Earl  was  determined  that 
the  Congo  crusade  must  come  to  an  end. 

As  a  matter  of  fact  he  knew  but  little  of  Gaunt's  char- 
acter, for  they  had  met  on  very  few  occasions,  and  each 
time  there  had  been  a  little  natural  embarrassment  on  his 
part,  for  his  future  brother-in-law  had  quietly  insisted  on 
paying  his  debts,  and  settling  upon  him  and  his  heirs  a 
sum  of  money  which  had  made  him  comfortably  well  off, 
if  not  rich.  Lord  Lynton  had  demurred  to  accepting 
these  favors,  even  at  the  hands  of  a  future  relative,  but 
Gaunt  had  taken  no  notice  of  his  protests  and  had  merely 
given  instructions  to  the  family  solicitors,  and  the  Earl 
had  found  that  his  debts  had  been  paid  and  the  settlement 
executed.  After  all  Lady  Mildred  was  making  a  sacri- 
fice in  marrying  a  mere  financier,  and  it  was  very  com- 
forting to  think  that  the  worry  of  a  heavy  load  of  debt 
had  been  removed  from  her  mind. 

At  Victoria  Station  Lord  Lynton  jumped  into  a  taxi- 
cab,  and  drove  straight  to  the  foreign  office,  where 


THE    VOW  197 

he  was  received  almost  immediately  by  Sir  Keith 
Hamilton. 

"  I  am  sorry  to  have  brought  you  from  your  arduous 
duties  so  abruptly,"  the  foreign  secretary  remarked  by 
way  of  greeting,  and  there  was  a  twinkle  in  his  eye. 

Sir  Keith  had  the  reputation  of  being  a  strong  minis- 
ter, and  perhaps  it  was  owing  to  the  fact  that  he  knew 
when  to  remain  silent.  His  speeches  in  the  House  were 
of  admirable  terseness,  and  he  had  made  a  point  of  steer- 
ing as  clear  as  possible  of  party  conflicts,  so  that  he  en- 
joyed the  respect  and  confidence  of  each  side  of  the 
House.  It  was  rarely  that  any  rash  member  tried  to 
cross  swords  with  him,  for  he  possessed  a  biting  wit  that 
was  used  unsparingly,  greatly  to  the  discomfiture  of  his 
adversaries. 

Lord  Lynton  smiled  but  made  no  answer  to  the 
remark. 

"  As  a  matter  of  fact  I  want  you  here  only  because 
you  are  the  brother-in-law  of  John  Gaunt.  I  suppose 
that  in  the  moments  that  you  can  spare  from  society  you 
do  sometimes  study  international  politics,  and  you  are 
probably  aware  that  there  is  room  for  improvement  in  the 
present  position.  I  am  referring  more  particularly  to 
Germany,  but  I  don't  blame  them  more  than  ourselves. 
If  war  ever  takes  place  between  us,  it  will  have  been 
brought  about  by  the  press.  The  position  is  such  that 
we  have  to  avoid  every  possibility  of  disagreement,  and 
your  worthy  brother-in-law  is  embarrassing  me  consider- 
ably. The  Congo  must  be  a  great  question  in  the  future, 
and  I  am  anxious  to  delay  the  day  as  much  as  possible. 
The  Free  State  is  surrounded  by  colonies  owned  by 
England,  France,  and  Germany,  and  each  country  would 


198 THE    VOW 

like  the  largest  slice  when  the  division  takes  place.  Un- 
fortunately Germany  is  absurdly  jealous  of  England,  and 
we  reciprocate  the  feeling  just  as  absurdly.  Therefore 
they  will  look  upon  any  step  we  may  take  with  the  great- 
est suspicion,  and  we  should  return  the  compliment.  Do 
you  follow  me  ?  " 

"  Yes,  I  think  so,"  Lord  Lynton  answered  quietly. 

"  Good.  This  being  the  state  of  affairs,  it  is  essential 
that  the  Congo  question  should  be  kept  out  of  sight  as 
much  as  possible.  Your  brother-in-law  evidently  does 
not  understand  this,  for  he  is  responsible  for  an  agitation 
which  is  rapidly  becoming  a  nuisance.  I  think  you  will 
now  understand  what  I  want.  Gaunt  must  be  silenced, 
and  it  struck  me  that  you,  being  a  relative,  were  the  most 
desirable  person  to  bring  this  about." 

"  I  don't  know  that  I  have  any  influence  with  Mr. 
Gaunt.  True,  he  is  my  brother-in-law,  but  we  have 
seen  very  little  of  one  another,"  the  Earl  said  doubt- 
fully. 

"  Then  you  must  cultivate  his  acquaintance.  Probably 
you  have  some  influence  with  your  sister.  You  may  be 
able  to  reach  Gaunt  through  her.  I  want  you  to  appre- 
ciate that  the  matter  is  very  serious,  and  that  you  must 
leave  no  stone  unturned  to  make  him  keep  his  mouth 
shut.  If  once  the  British  public  gets  the  bit  between  its 
teeth,  there  is  no  holding  it,  and  we  shall  be  forced  to  in- 
tervene." 

"  I  see  the  danger,  and  I  will  do  my  best,  sir." 

"  Good.  If  he  is  obstinate,  send  him  to  see  me  at  once. 
Let  me  know  how  you  get  on  as  I  am  rather  anxious. 
You  need  not  hurry  to  get  back  to  your  post." 

And  the  secretary  ga-ve  him  a  curt  nod  of  dismissal. 


THE    VOW    199 

Lord  Lynton  did  not  at  all  like  the  task  that  had  been 
given  to  him,  but  there  was  no  alternative  save  to  obey, 
so  he  ordered  his  baggage  to  be  put  on  a  taxi-cab,  and 
as  he  was  about  to  step  in,  a  newsboy  thrust  a  paper  into 
his  hands. 

"  Evenin'  Comet,  sir  ?    All  the  news." 

Lord  Lynton  gave  the  boy  a  copper,  and  during  the 
drive  casually  glanced  at  the  paper,  but  suddenly  an  ex- 
clamation escaped  him,  and  he  proceeded  to  read  a  half 
column  with  the  deepest  attention. 

"  I  think  that  it  was  about  time  I  came  home,"  he  mut- 
tered savagely.  And  when  he  entered  Gaunt's  house 
there  was  a  grim  look  on  his  face. 

For  a  few  minutes  he  waited  in  the  hall  until  a  glad 
cry  was  heard,  and  Lady  Ethel  ran  towards  him  with  out- 
stretched arms. 

"  How  glad  I  am  to  see  you,  Geoffrey,"  she  cried,  and 
gave  him  an  affectionate  embrace. 

"  Where  is  Mildred  ?  "  he  asked  quietly. 

"  With  her  husband.  Come  along  to  them,"  she  said, 
and  slipping  her  arm  through  his,  drew  him  along. 

Gaunt  and  his  wife  were  sitting  close  together,  and  it 
was  evident  to  Lord  Lynton  that  they  were  on  the  best 
of  terms.  Lady  Mildred's  expression  was  that  of  a  per- 
fectly happy  woman,  and  he  thought  how  greatly  she  had 
improved.  Her  greeting  was  a  quiet  one,  and  then 
Gaunt  came  towards  him  with  outstretched  hand. 

"  Run  away,  girls  ;  I  want  to  have  a  business  talk  with 
Gaunt,  and  afterwards  I  shall  be  at  your  service,"  Lord 
Lynton  said  hurriedly,  as  he  just  touched  his  brother-in- 
law's  hand. 

"  My  husband  has  no  secrets  from  me  —  isn't  that  so  ?  " 


200  THE    VOW 


Lady  Mildred  said  quietly,  turning  to  Gaunt  with  a 
smile. 

"  Do  you  wish  her  to  remain  ?  "  the  Earl  asked  coldly. 

"  It  is  as  my  wife  wishes,"  Gaunt  answered,  and  frankly 
met  his  brother-in-law's  rather  hostile  look. 

"  You  had  better  go,  Ethel.  I  don't  suppose  we  shall 
be  very  long." 

"  I  suppose  it  is  that  wretched  Congo  again,"  Lady 
Ethel  said  petulantly,  but  she  left  the  room. 

"  What  is  it  ? "  Gaunt  asked  quietly,  exchanging 
glances  with  his  wife  who  had  drawn  closer  and  had 
slipped  her  hand  into  his. 

"  I  really  came  to  see  you  about  this  Congo  foolish- 
ness, but  there  is  something  in  to-night's  paper  that  is  of 
more  consequence.  Please  read  this  paragraph,  and  you 
will  understand  why  I  am  rather  upset." 

Gaunt  took  the  paper,  and  his  lips  were  firmly  pressed 
together  when  he  saw  the  head- lines. 

"  A  deal  in  Amanti  Shares.  Curious  story  at  the 
Police  Court." 

He  rapidly  mastered  the  statement  which  followed  — 
the  arrest  of  Davis  at  the  instance  of  the  Mining  Com- 
pany for  having  forged  and  despatched  the  cable,  and  the 
explicit  statement  that  Julian  Weiss  and  John  Gaunt 
were  the  men  who  had  planned  the  forgery.  In  counsel's 
short  speech  the  facts  were  disclosed,  and  Gaunt  realized 
that  it  was  impossible  to  deny  their  accuracy. 

Without  saying  a  word,  he  handed  the  paper  to  Lady 
Mildred,  and  his  eyes  were  fixed  anxiously  on  her  face 
as  she  read. 

"  I  don't  understand  it,"  she  said  at  last. 

"  It  is  simple.     If  this  account  is  true,  your  husband 


THE    VOW 201 

conspired  with  the  Jewish  financier,  Weiss,  to  commit  a 
gross  fraud  upon  the  public.  Is  that  correct  ? "  Lord 
Lynton  demanded  of  Gaunt. 

"  Yes,  it  is  quite  right,"  was  the  quiet  reply. 

"  And  do  you  deny  the  charge  that  they  make  against 
you  ?  " 

"  I  do  not  recognize  your  right  to  question  me,"  Gaunt 
answered  coldly,  but  he  was  eagerly  looking  down  at  his 
wife,  and  her  hand  still  rested  in  his. 

"  Perhaps  I  had  better  tell  you  the  whole  story,"  he 
began,  addressing  himself  to  Lady  Mildred. 

The  facts  were  soon  told,  and  he  suppressed  nothing 
except  the  vow  that  he  had  made,  but  when  he  spoke  of 
the  interview  at  which  Edward  Drake  had  been  present, 
and  the  subsequent  sending  of  the  check  to  the  King's 
Hospital  Fund,  the  look  of  distress  vanished  from  his 
wife's  face. 

"  You  did  not  benefit  from  it,  John.  Of  course  you 
were  very  wrong  in  the  first  place,  but " 

"  Is  that  the  way  you  look  at  it,  Mildred  ?  Then  you 
have  indeed  changed,"  Lord  Lynton  cried  harshly. 
"  Cannot  you  understand  that  Gaunt  has  been  found  out 
in  a  dishonorable  act  ?  By  this  time  all  London  will 
have  read  the  report  of  the  proceedings  at  the  police 
court,  and  they  will  rightly  call  him  a " 

"  Silence,  Geoffrey  ! "  she  cried  peremptorily,  and  her 
bosom  rose  and  fell  quickly.  "  Perhaps  John  may  have 
done  wrong,  and  I  am  sorry,  but  I  do  not  intend  to  allow 
it  to  affect  me.  If  you  wish  to  remain  friends  you  must 
be  silent." 

Lord  Lynton  gazed  at  his  sister  in  wonder. 

41  Of  course,  Gaunt  may  be  able  to  smooth  the  matter 


202  THE    VOW 


over.  It  would  be  advisable  to  go  to  the  Amanti  people 
at  once,  and  if  necessary,  pay  them  handsomely  for  with- 
drawing the  charge.  Then  you  can  get  a  clever  coun- 
sel to  go  to  the  police  court,  and  say  that  it  is  all  a  mis- 
take. It  is  only  a  question  of  money,"  he  said  with  the 
idea  of  making  the  best  of  the  situation. 

"  I  intend  to  take  no  step  at  all,  for  I  cannot  deny  its 
truth,"  Gaunt  answered,  and  he  felt  his  wife's  hand  trem- 
ble slightly. 

Lord  Lynton  uttered  an  exclamation  of  anger,  but 
quickly  brought  into  play  his  diplomatic  training. 

"  We  will  discuss  it  later  on  —  with  other  matters,"  he 
remarked,  and  Lady  Mildred  gave  a  quick  sigh  of  relief. 


CHAPTER  XXVI 

LADY  MILDRED  was  dressed  for  dinner,  and  as 
it  was  rather  early,  she  sat  down  in  her  own 
room,  but  very  soon  Gaunt  came  in.  They  had 
not  spoken  since  the  interview  with  her  brother,  and 
there  were  still  traces  of  anxiety  on  his  face. 

"  You  were  very  good  to  stand  up  for  me  in  the  way 
you  did,  Mildred,"  he  said  earnestly.  "  Your  brother 
was  in  the  right,  for  it  is  a  sordid  business,  and  I  greatly 
regret  it." 

"  Say  no  more,  John,"  she  said  gently,  and  drawing 
his  face  to  hers,  kissed  him  on  the  lips.  "  Perhaps  it  is 
true  that  women  lose  some  of  their  ideas  of  morality 
when  they  love,  for  I  cannot  condemn  you.  I  only  know 
that  I  love  you." 

He  took  her  in  his  arms,  and  there  was  a  great  yearn- 
ing in  his  eyes,  as  he  looked  steadfastly  at  her. 

"  These  last  few  hours  have  given  me  a  glimpse  of 
paradise,  dearest.  For  your  sake,  I  wish  that  I  had  been 
a  better  man.  If  I  had  met  you  years  ago,  I  believe  that 
I  should  have  always  been  straight.  At  any  rate,  I  can 
give  you  my  word  that  there  shall  be  nothing  in  my 
future  to  make  you  ashamed." 

"  I  am  sure  of  that,  John.  Promise  me  that  you  will 
be  very  patient  with  Geoffrey.  He  is  impulsive  and  may 
say  things  that  will  hurt  you." 

"  I  will  keep  my  temper  for  your  sake.  After  all  he 
has  some  reason  on  his  side,  for  this  scandal  will  naturally 

203 


204  THE    VOW 

reflect  upon  you,  and  indirectly  upon  himself.  Now  I 
think  it  is  time  to  go  down  to  dinner." 

"  One  kiss,  dearest." 

And  she  placed  her  arms  around  his  neck  and  drew 
him  to  her.  And  John  was  happy,  in  spite  of  the  many 
dangers  by  which  he  was  surrounded.  There  was  only 
one  thing  that  he  feared  —  that  she  should  become  ac- 
quainted with  the  Marillier  affair.  Her  present  attitude 
assured  him  that  she  would  forgive  the  exposure  of  any 
of  the  shady  transactions  in  the  City  of  which  he  had 
been  guilty,  but  he  realized  that  a  charge  of  murder  was  a 
very  different  matter. 

At  dinner  Lord  Lynton  made  himself  agreeable,  and 
the  conversation  became  animated,  all  taking  part  in  it 
save  John  Gaunt,  for  he  suspected  the  reason  of  his 
brother-in-law's  unexpected  journey  from  Paris,  and  he 
anticipated  an  unpleasant  interview.  However,  it  was 
not  his  way  to  postpone  anything  that  was  disagreeable, 
so  when  the  ladies  had  left  the  room,  he  proposed  that 
the  Earl  should  accompany  him  to  the  library. 

"  I  do  not  intend  to  talk  about  that  Amanti  business. 
I  will  be  quite  frank  with  you,  Gaunt.  I  was  sent  for  by 
the  foreign  secretary,  and  he  wishes  me  to  tell  you  that 
your  present  action  of  fanning  this  Congo  agitation  is 
causing  him  serious  embarrassment,"  Lord  Lynton  said 
slowly  and  impressively. 

"  I  can  quite  understand  that  he  does  not  like  it," 
Gaunt  answered  with  a  faint  smile. 

"  The  present  moment  is  inopportune  for  the  raising 
of  any  international  question.  It  is  impossible  for  us  to 
do  anything  without  Germany,  and  she  thinks  us  incapa- 
ble of  any  action  for  philanthropic  motives.  She  im- 


THE    VOW  205 

agines  that  we  have  an  eye  on  the  Congo  Free  State, 
and  that  if  any  partition  should  take  place  we  shall,  as 
usual,  succeed  in  getting  the  lion's  share." 

"  I  do  not  think  that  we  should  allow  Germany  to  dic- 
tate our  policy.  In  other  days  England  was  wont  to  go 
her  own  way,  and  she  was  always  eager  to  help  the  op- 
pressed." 

"  We  have  already  done  everything  in  our  power,  for 
we  have  made  urgent  representations  to  the  Belgian 
government." 

"  Representations  are  useless  —  a  cruiser  at  the  mouth 
of  the  Congo  is  the  only  effective  argument,"  Gaunt  an- 
swered drily. 

"  You  will  not  try  to  understand  our  difficulties,  and  it 
is  useless  discussing  the  matter  further.  I  want  you  to 
promise  that  you  will  do  your  utmost  to  stop  this  agita- 
tion. I  presume  that  it  is  you  that  pay  for  these  adver- 
tisements. May  I  ask  why  you  are  wasting  your  money 
in  this  way?" 

"  Surely  that  is  my  business.  If  I  like  to  throw  away 
my  own  money,  it  only  concerns  myself.  On  occasions 
I  have  given  away  large  amounts,  when  there  was  no 
prospect  of  an  adequate  return." 

The  Earl's  face  flushed,  and  he  rose  to  his  feet. 

"  I  suppose  you  intend  to  refer  to  myself.  You  were 
very  generous,  and  the  money  came  when  I  was  hard 
pressed.  I  am  very  grateful  to  you  for  your  kindness, 
but  I  shall  begin  to  regret  that  I  accepted  any  benefit  at 
your  hands." 

"  You  are  mistaken,  Lynton.  On  my  honor  I  was  not 
thinking  of  you.  The  money  I  settled  was  on  my  wife's 
brother,  and  you  are  not  under  the  slightest  obligation 


206  THE    VOW 

towards  me.  If  you  had  not  been  Mildred's  brother,  I 
should  have  seen  you  damned  before  giving  you  a  penny, 
so  you  may  make  your  mind  easy.  I  never  professed  to 
like  you  personally,  for  you  always  struck  me  as  being 
one  of  those  ultra-self-satisfied  people,  who  are  an  offense 
to  the  mere  ordinary  person.  One  only  has  to  look  at 
you  to  know  that  you  appreciate  yourself  at  your  full 
value  —  and  a  little  over.  Forgive  my  plain  speech,  but 
you  rather  brought  it  upon  yourself." 

Lord  Lynton  looked  curiously  at  Gaunt,  and  knew  not 
whether  to  resent  this  frankness ;  but  he  quickly  remem- 
bered his  mission,  and  forced  a  rather  sickly  smile  to  his 
face. 

"  It  is  a  good  thing  to  hear  an  opinion  of  oneself.  But 
let  us  return  to  the  Congo.  I  want  you  to  promise  to 
give  up  this  crusade.  It  can't  really  mean  very  much  to 
you,  and  you  will  be  doing  me  a  great  favor.  Naturally 
the  foreign  office  know  that  you  are  my  brother-in-law, 
and " 

"  They  may  think  the  less  of  you  for  possessing  such 
an  undesirable  relative  ?  I  am  afraid  I  can  give  you  no 
such  promise,  for  instead  of  relaxing  my  efforts,  I  intend 
to  redouble  them,  until  I  force  the  government  to  inter- 
vene," Gaunt  said,  and  the  voice  was  grimly  determined. 

"  Governments  are  not  moved  so  easily,  and  you  will 
only  injure  yourself." 

"  I  have  already  done  that,  for  I  am  pretty  sure  that 
the  Belgians  are  responsible  for  the  Amanti  exposure." 

"  All  the  more  reason  why  you  should  do  as  I  ask," 
the  Earl  broke  in  quickly. 

"  Do  I  interrupt  you  ?  "  Lady  Mildred  called  from  the 
doorway. 


THE    VOW  207 

"  No.  Come  in,  for  I  don't  think  that  your  brother 
has  much  more  to  say,"  Gaunt  answered. 

"  Yes,  come  in,  Mildred,  and  help  me  to  persuade  your 
husband  to  be  sensible,"  the  Earl  cried  eagerly. 

"  What  is  it  ? "  she  asked,  and  sat  on  the  arm  of 
Gaunt's  chair,  allowing  her  hand  to  rest  on  his  shoulder. 

"  Sir  Keith  Hamilton  wants  him  to  stop  this  Congo 
agitation,  and  he  flatly  refuses,"  Lord  Lynton  answered, 
and  there  was  wonder  in  his  voice  that  any  one  dare  op- 
pose the  wishes  of  such  an  august  official  as  the  foreign 
secretary. 

"  I  do  not  intend  to  interfere.  John  must  decide  for 
himself,  and  I  shall  be  content  with  his  decision,"  she  an- 
swered quietly. 

"  You  are  a  very  dutiful  wife,  and  a  foolish  woman.  I 
did  think  that  you  would  have  more  common  sense, 
Mildred,"  he  cried  angrily ;  and  then  turned  to  Gaunt. 
"  Is  this  your  final  decision  ?  " 

"  Absolutely,  and  I  keep  my  word,"  he  answered 
quietly. 

"  Sir  Keith  must  have  anticipated  this,  for  he  said  that 
if  I  were  unsuccessful,  I  was  to  ask  you  to  go  and  see 
him  at  the  foreign  office,"  the  Earl  said  reluctantly,  for  his 
lack  of  success  would  be  a  reflection  upon  his  diplomacy. 

A  smile  came  to  Gaunt's  face,  and  he  looked  at  his 
wife  as  he  answered. 

"  I  fear  that  I  must  refuse  Sir  Keith's  invitation.  If  he 
wants  to  see  me,  he  must  come  here." 

"  The  foreign  secretary  come  to  you ! "  the  Earl  cried 
in  an  amazed  tone. 

"  Yes.  But  you  may  tell  him  that  his  visit  will  be  a 
useless  one." 


208  THE    VOW 

"  Gaunt,  I  don't  understand  you.  I  think  you  must  be 
mad." 

"  Let  us  join  the  others,"  Lady  Mildred  cried  hur- 
riedly, for  she  saw  a  glint  appear  in  her  husband's  eye, 
and  she  had  no  wish  that  they  should  quarrel. 

"  Very  well,  dear,"  Gaunt  said  with  a  laugh,  and  the 
Earl  followed  them  slowly. 

During  the  rest  of  the  evening  there  was  no  further 
reference  to  the  subject,  but  Gaunt  now  and  then  caught 
Lord  Lynton  looking  at  him  with  a  curious  expression  in 
his  eyes. 

In  the  morning  the  two  men  met  in  the  library  where 
the  Earl  was  surrounded  by  the  morning  papers,  most  of 
which  bore  evidence  of  having  been  impatiently  thrown 
aside. 

"  Gaunt,  you  must  do  something.  The  papers  are 
making  a  feature  of  this  Amanti  business,  and  it  ought 
to  be  stopped.  Get  your  lawyer  man  to  threaten  them 
with  a  libel  action." 

"  For  telling  the  truth.  No,  I  intend  to  let  them  go 
their  own  way." 

"  It  is  scandalous,"  the  Earl  cried  hotly,  but  Gaunt  only 
smiled.  In  fact  he  had  just  left  his  wife  and  could  still 
feel  her  kiss  upon  his  lips,  so  these  troubles  were  things 
that  did  not  matter. 

When  Edward  Drake  came  in,  the  Earl  at  once 
tackled  him. 

"  I  understand,  sir,  that  you  are  Gaunt's  adviser?" 

"  Why  do  you  say  that?"  Drake  asked  quickly. 

"  He  has  probably  been  talking  to  Lady  Ethel," 
Gaunt  answered  quickly. 

"  If  you  have  any  influence  with  Mr.  Gaunt,  pray  in- 


THE    VOW  209 


duce  him  to  reconsider  his  decision.  As  his  near  rela- 
tive, I  wish  him  to  do  two  things  —  to  stamp  out  these 
vermin  who  are  attacking  him,  and  to  cease  this  Congo 
agitation.  Don't  you  agree  with  me  that  I  am  only  rea- 
sonable ?  "  the  Earl  asked  warmly. 

"  No.  I  know  the  whole  facts  of  the  Amanti  business. 
Gaunt  did  wrong,  and  he  must  suffer  for  his  wrong- 
doing. As  to  the  Congo,  he  would  dishonor  himself  if 
he  turned  back,"  Drake  answered  quietly. 

"  You  speak  as  a  clergyman  ?  "  the  Earl  cried  angrily. 

"  I  speak  as  a  Christian  and  a  man.  May  I  suggest 
that  you  allow  Mr.  Gaunt  to  manage  his  own  affairs  ? 
For  I  assure  you  that  he  is  quite  capable  of  doing  so." 

Lord  Lynton  plainly  showed  his  annoyance. 

"  Gaunt  —  I  am  now  going  to  the  foreign  office,"  he 
said  curtly. 

"  You  may  convey  my  answer  to  the  foreign  secretary." 

Lord  Lynton  left  the  room,  as  he  did  not  wish  to  lose 
his  temper,  for  he  knew  that  he  was  a  match  for  neither 
of  these  strong,  self-contained  men. 

"  His  lordship  is  angry,"  Drake  said  with  a  smile. 

"  And  has  reason  to  be,  if  you  look  at  it  from  his  point 
of  view.  Have  you  seen  the  morning  papers  ?  "  Gaunt 
asked  casually. 

"  Yes,  and  I  am  sorry  that  this  thing  has  come  out  at 
the  present  moment.  I  suppose  there  can  be  no  doubt 
that  the  Baron  is  behind  it  ?  " 

"  No  doubt  at  all,  and  they  will  probably  work  the 
trial  so  that  I  am  subpoenaed  to  attend.  It  might  even 
be  possible  to  get  Weiss  and  myself  in  the  dock  on  a 
charge  of  conspiracy.  However,  I  am  prepared  for  any 
development." 


210  THE    VOW 


"  You  are  not  afraid  ?  " 

"  Of  nothing,  for  I  have  my  wife's  confidence  —  and 
her  love,"  he  added  so  quietly  that  Drake  could  scarcely 
catch  the  words. 

However,  he  understood  and  he  placed  his  hand  on 
Gaunt's  shoulder. 

"  I  am  very  glad,  and  have  only  one  regret,"  he  said 
in  a  low  voice. 

"What  is  that?" 

"  That  you  did  not  tell  your  wife  everything.  She  is  a 
noble  woman  and  large-minded  enough  to  have  forgiven, 
if  you  had  confessed.  But  if  she  finds  out  from  any  one 
else " 

"  I  won't  think  it  possible,"  Gaunt  cried  passionately, 
4  and  there  was  horror  in  his  eyes. 


CHAPTER  XXVII 

LORD  LYNTON  did  not  look  forward  to  his  in- 
terview with  Sir  Keith  Hamilton,  but  there  was 
nothing  to  be  gained  by  postponement,  for  he 
was  satisfied  that  there  was  no  chance  of  being  able  to 
persuade  Gaunt  to  change  his  mind.  Accordingly  he 
went  to  the  foreign  office  at  once,  and  was  admitted 
into  the  presence  of  his  chief. 

"  Have  you  been  successful  ?  "  the  latter  asked  quickly. 

"  No,  sir.  Mr.  Gaunt  absolutely  refused  to  cease  this 
agitation.  It  is  needless  to  say  that  I  spared  no  effort  to 
get  him  to  fall  in  with  your  wishes,  but  he  is  quite  obsti- 
nate. He  is  an  extremely  difficult  man  to  handle,"  the 
Earl  said  apologetically. 

"  So  I  should  imagine.  Please  tell  me  everything  that 
took  place.  Pray  be  as  accurate  as  possible." 

And  Lord  Lynton  proceeded  to  relate  in  detail  their 
conversation,  while  the  foreign  secretary  listened  atten- 
tively. 

"  A  strong  man,  your  brother-in-law.  I  must  see 
what  I  can  do  with  him.  When  is  he  coming  here?" 

"  I  regret  to  say  that  he  refuses  to  come  at  all,"  the 
Earl  answered  hesitatingly. 

"  Ah,  that  is  serious,  for  it  sounds  like  a  declaration 
of  war,"  the  minister  said  slowly. 

"  He  intimated  that  if  you  wished  to  see  him  you 
would  find  him  at  Gaunt  House.  I  am  very  sorry  that  I 
have  not  been  more  successful,  sir." 

211 


212  THE    VOW 

"  So  am  I,"  Sir  Keith  answered  drily,  and  then  lapsed 
into  silence. 

The  Earl  fidgeted  in  his  chair,  for  he  began  to  imagine 
that  his  presence  had  been  forgotten,  but  suddenly  he 
felt  a  pair  of  piercing  gray  eyes  turned  towards  him. 

"  You  had  better  remain  in  London  for  the  present. 
Are  you  staying  with  Mr.  Gaunt  ?  " 

"  Yes,  sir." 

"  Remain  there,  for  you  may  be  useful.  Just  one 
question,  and  it  is  rather  a  delicate  one.  What  attitude 
does  Lady  Mildred  take  up  ?  Of  course  you  spoke  to 
her  on  the  subject  ?  " 

"  Yes,  and  I  am  sorry  to  say  that  she  backs  up  her 
husband.  She  seems  to  have  changed  a  good  deal  since 
her  marriage." 

"  Gaunt  is  evidently  a  man  with  a  personality,  and  I 
shall  be  interested  to  meet  him." 

«  You  intend  to  go  to  his  house  ? "  the  Earl  cried  in 
surprise. 

"  Yes,  but  there  is  no  necessity  to  mention  my  inten- 
tion to  Gaunt." 

A  secretary  had  entered  and  placed  a  piece  of  paper 
before  Sir  Keith. 

"  Yes,  I  will  see  the  Baron,  but  not  until  I  ring. 
Good-evening,  my  lord.  Please  keep  in  constant  touch 
with  the  office,"  the  latter  remarked  to  the  Earl,  who 
then  left  the  room. 

When  the  door  was  closed,  Sir  Keith  rose  and  began 
to  pace  to  and  fro.  It  was  evident  that  he  was  thinking 
deeply,  and  now  one  could  see  that  the  first  impression  of 
youth  was  false,  for  there  were  deep  lines  on  his  clean 
shaven  face,  and  the  hair  near  his  temples  was  turning  gray. 


THE    VOW 213 

Then  he  took  up  a  precis  which  told  him  of  the  latest 
developments  in  the  Congo  agitation,  and  his  brows  be- 
came puckered  into  a  frown  as  he  read. 

"  This  man  must  be  stopped.  Now  we  will  see  what 
the  Baron  has  to  say,"  he  muttered  irritably,  and  then 
touched  the  button  of  the  electric  bell. 

The  two  men  were  old  acquaintances,  and  had  a 
mutual  respect  for  one  another's  ability.  The  Baron 
possessed  an  advantage  for  he  knew  that  Sir  Keith  was  a 
straightforward  gentleman,  and  incapable  of  chicanery 
and  underhand  dealing. 

"  I  expected  you  before  this,  Baron.  You  have  been 
in  London  some  few  days,"  the  minister  remarked,  as  he 
returned  the  Belgian's  elaborate  bow. 

"  Yes,  your  Excellency,  but  I  have  had  very  much  to 
occupy  my  time.  Pray  forgive  the  delay  in  paying  my 
call,"  the  Baron  answered  politely. 

"  It  is  not  difficult  to  guess  what  has  occupied  you. 
For  one  word  —  Gaunt  ?  " 

"  Your  guess  is  a  shrewd  one ;  and  in  this  case  I  think 
our  interests  are  identical.  Do  you  not  agree  with  me  ?" 

"  It  depends  where  your  interests  lie  ?  " 

"It  is  evident  —  in  stopping  Gaunt  from  raising  this 
clamor.  It  is  not  necessary  for  us  to  discuss  the 
international  situation,  for  you  know  it  better  than  I  do. 
It  suffices  to  say  that  this  agitation  is  against  your 
interests  and  ours." 

"  I  do  not  know  that  it  affects  my  government  very 
greatly,  but  I  can  quite  understand  that  you  would 
object  to  this  exposure.  Why  not  remedy  the  state  of 
affairs  in  the  Congo,  for  sooner  or  later  you  will  have  to 
do  50  ?  "  Sir  Keith  s.ajd  significantly. 


214 THE    VOW 

"  We  are  doing  our  utmost  to  improve  the  status  of 
the  natives,  but  these  things  cannot  be  done  in  a 
moment,"  the  Baron  expostulated. 

"  That  is  the  official  voice  that  speaks.  Unofficially 
I  tell  you  that  the  treatment  of  the  natives  is  as  bad  as 
ever  it  was,  and  you  know  it.  But  it  is  useless  discussing 
that ;  I  will  drop  you  a  friendly  hint.  You  are  reaching 
the  end  of  your  tether." 

Sir  Keith  spoke  very  seriously,  and  his  eyes  did  not 
leave  the  Baron's  face. 

"  Of  course  you  are  speaking  unofficially,"  the  latter 
said  quietly. 

"  Quite  so,"  Sir  Keith  rejoined  drily ;  "  and  now  may  I 
know  what  I  can  do  for  you  ?  " 

"  Close  the  mouth  of  this  man,  Gaunt." 

"  That  is  not  an  easy  matter.  England  is  a  free 
country,  and  prides  itself  upon  its  freedom  of  speech.  So 
far  Gaunt  has  not  given  us  any  grounds  for  interference." 

"  But  the  agitation  is  increasing  by  leaps  and  bounds. 
The  situation  may  become  dangerous." 

"  You  are  afraid  that  His  Majesty's  government  may 
be  forced  by  the  clamor  to  intervene  in  the  Congo.  Put 
an  end  to  the  abuses  and  you  will  have  no  cause  for 
anxiety.  I  regret  that  I  cannot  help  you,  Baron." 

Sir  Keith  rose  to  terminate  the  interview,  but  De 
Croiseuil  made  no  sign  of  going. 

"  A  word  from  you  to  Gaunt  would  make  him  stop," 
he  said  doggedly. 

"  This  is  not  Belgium.  An  official,  however  high  he 
may  be,  is  not  such  an  exalted  person  as  in  your 
country.  Good-morning,  Baron,"  Sir  Keith  said  de- 
cidedly. 


THE    VOW  215 

"  I  shall  esteem  it  a  favor  if  you  will  glance  through 
these  papers.  I  see  that  you  are  a  busy  man,  and  I  will 
call  again  for  your  opinion.  I  have  the  honor  of 
wishing  good-day  to  your  Excellency." 

And  the  Baron,  having  placed  a  large  envelope  on  the 
table,  bowed  himself  from  the  room.  The  foreign 
secretary  took  out  the  papers,  and  it  was  evident  that 
his  interest  was  aroused  from  the  outset,  for  he  read  on 
till  he  had  thoroughly  mastered  each  document.  This 
done  he  left  the  office  and  walked  rapidly  to  his  club, 
where  he  ate  a  frugal  lunch,  and  afterwards  went  to  the 
smoking-room. 

"  The  Baron's  little  game  is  very  clever,  but  will  it 
succeed  ?  " 

He  asked  himself  the  question  but  could  come  to  no 
decision. 

"  Perhaps  an  interview  with  Gaunt  will  give  me  the 
answer,"  he  said  musingly  and  having  finished  his  cigar, 
he  started  walking  rapidly  to  Park  Lane. 

None  recognized  him  save  a  policeman,  for  he  was  a 
man  who  loathed  advertisement,  and  considered  that  he 
was  most  successful  as  a  foreign  secretary  when  his 
name  was  least  in  evidence.  By  the  time  he  reached 
Gaunt's  house,  his  mind  was  made  up  as  to  the  course 
he  should  take  at  the  coming  interview. 

There  was  a  few  minutes'  wait  in  the  hall,  and  he 
noticed  with  approval  the  quiet  taste  with  which  the 
place  was  furnished. 

"  Evidently  Lady  Mildred  was  consulted,"  was  the 
thought,  but  in  this  he  was  wrong,  for  Gaunt  had  chosen 
everything,  even  before  he  had  dreamt  of  marriage. 

To    his    knowledge   Sir   Keith   had   never  seen   the 


216  THE    VOW 

millionaire,  and  so  he  looked  with  keen  interest  at  the 
man  who  greeted  him,  noting  the  strong  face  and  air  of 
self-reliance. 

"  The  mountain  would  not  come  to  Mahomet But 

I  am  afraid  that  quotation  is  unappropriate,  for  I  cer- 
tainly am  no  prophet,  Mr.  Gaunt.  May  I  sit  down  ?  " 

Sir  Keith  had  held  out  his  hand,  and  felt  Gaunt's 
steady  grip. 

"  There  is  nothing  flabby  in  this  man's  nature,"  was 
his  thought,  and  he  braced  himself  up  for  a  battle. 

He  sank  back  luxuriously  in  the  big  armchair,  while 
Gaunt  brought  a  box  of  cigars. 

"  Will  you  smoke,  sir  ?  "  he  asked  quietly. 

"  Thank  you.  I  suppose  you  know  what  I  have  come 
about.  It  was  very  good  of  you  to  invite  me  to  your 
house.  Quite  a  pleasant  change  from  my  office.  This 
room  is  very  restful ;  and  if  I  were  a  rich  man  I  should 
choose  just  such  a  place.  Ah,  I  see  you  have  excellent 
taste  in  books.  Isn't  that  a  Caxton  ?  " 

"  Don't  you  think  we  had  better  get  our  business 
over,  and  then  the  library  is  at  your  service,"  Gaunt 
answered,  and  the  respectful  tone  removed  any  suspicion 
of  rudeness. 

Sir  Keith  gave  him  a  quick  glance,  for  he  was  not 
accustomed  to  be  answered  quite  in  this  way.  It  was 
usually  his  role  to  lead  a  conversation. 

"  I  will  be  frank  and  blunt.  Why  are  you  carrying  on 
this  insane  crusade  ?  You  can  do  no  good  to  the  natives 
of  the  Congo,  and  you  will  only  injure  yourself.  In  ad- 
dition, it  is  very  embarrassing  to  me  as  foreign  secre- 
tary, for  I  tell  you  it  is  utterly  impossible  to  do  anything 
more  than  I  have  done.  Perhaps  in  a  few  months'  time 


THE    VOW  217 

the  political  atmosphere  will  have  cleared,  and  then  we 
may  be  able  to  do  more  than  make  representations  to  the 
Belgian  government.  I  may  say  that,  as  a  private  in- 
dividual, I  sympathize  with  all  you  are  doing.  In  the 
past  the  conduct  of  the  Congo  officials  has  been  diabol- 
ical, and  according  to  the  evidence  which  I  have  been  re- 
ceiving up  to  the  last  week  or  so,  they  are  not  improving 
matters.  I  read  your  first  speech,  and  I  agree  with  you 
that  the  Belgians  intend  to  exploit  the  Congo  until  they 
have  exhausted  the  country.  I  agree  with  you  that  there 
is  no  faith  to  be  placed  in  their  promises  of  reform,  and 
that  their  present  budget'proves  them  to  be  liars.  This 
is  said  in  confidence,  as  man  to  man.  I  believe  I  have 
the  reputation  of  not  being  callous  or  hard-hearted,  and 
if  it  were  possible  I  would  intervene  at  once.  But  I  tell 
you  solemnly  and  sincerely  that  at  present  we  can  go  no 
farther  than  to  make  representations.  You  are  only  con- 
sidering the  Congo.  I  must  think  of  the  well-being  of 
the  British  Empire.  The  present  is  a  time  of  great 
danger,  for  a  spark  might  start  a  war  which  would  appal 
mankind.  It  is  my  duty  to  avoid  every  possibility  of 
causing  a  spark.  It  is  my  opinion  that  if  we  intervene  by 
force,  there  would  be  danger  of  war  with  another  country, 
and  I  dare  not  run  the  risk.  I  am  not  usually  a  man  of 
many  words,  but  I  have  spoken  at  such  length  so  that 
you  may  fully  understand  my  position.  Now  I  ask  you 
to  cease  this  public  outcry." 

Sir  Keith  had  risen,  and  stood  face  to  face  with  Gaunt. 
Their  eyes  met,  and  for  a  while  neither  spoke.  At  last 
the  foreign  secretary  uttered  a  little  sigh  and  turned  away. 

"And  that  answer  is  final?"  he  asked  wearily,  al- 
though Gaunt  had  not  spoken. 


218  THE    VOW 


"  Absolutely.  I  thank  you  for  coming  to  see  me.  I 
thought  you  to  be  a  very  different  man,  and  I  now  see 
that  it  was  a  petty  act — my  refusal  to  go  to  you.  Pray 
forgive  me." 

"  I,  too,  was  mistaken  in  you,  Mr.  Gaunt.  Whatever 
may  be  your  motive,  I  do  not  think  it  is  an  unworthy 
one.  It  is  a  pity  that  your  life  has  not  been  differ- 
ent. England  can  do  with  such  men  as  yourself. 
Good-bye." 

Again  the  two  men  eyed  one  another  steadily. 

"  I  won't  insult  you  by  pressing  you  to  change  your 
mind." 

Sir  Keith  sighed  once  more,  and  now  his  face  seemed 
to  have  aged. 

"  By  the  bye,  I  must  warn  you  of  one  thing.  We 
have  not  mentioned  the  Baron  de  Croiseuil,  but  you  have 
probably  realized  that  he  is  your  bitterest  enemy.  I 
don't  think  I  shall  be  betraying  a  confidence,  if  I  tell  you 
that  an  application  will  be  made  at  Bow  Street  at  once. 
It  concerns  the  death  on  the  Congo  of  a  man  named 
Marillier,  and  proceedings  will  be  taken  for  your  extra- 
dition to  that  country  on  a  charge  of  murder." 

Gaunt's  face  was  set,  and  his  mouth  was  drawn  into  a 
grim  line,  but  he  did  not  falter. 

"  It  was  a  kindness  to  tell  me,"  he  said  quietly. 

Sir  Keith  Hamilton  gave  Gaunt  a  glance  of  admiration 
and  then  continued  deprecatingly  : 

"  It  is  evident  that  this  summons  for  extradition  is  a 
move  upon  the  part  of  the  Baron  de  Croiseuil  to  dis- 
credit you,  and  I  assure  you  that  he  will  not  have  my 
support,"  he  said  with  quiet  emphasis. 

"  It  is  very  good  of  you  to  tell  me  this,  sir,  espe- 


THE    VOW  219 


cially  after  the  attitude  I  have  taken  up,"  Gaunt  answered 
earnestly. 

"  I  don't  profess  to  understand  your  motive  for  stir- 
ring up  this  agitation,  and  I  don't  ask  for  your  confi- 
dence, but " 

He  paused  expressively,  and  there  was  an  expression 
of  inquiry  on  his  face.  Gaunt  knew  not  what  to  say,  for 
how  could  he  give  his  real  motive  —  the  vow  ?  And  that 
was  not  the  sole  reason,  for  now  he  was  animated  by  a 
keen  desire  to  defeat  those  who  were  attacking  him  so 
spitefully.  His  love  of  fighting  had  been  raised  to  fever- 
heat,  and  yet  he  could  not  explain  those  mingled  feelings 
to  the  foreign  secretary. 

"  I  do  not  fear  this  police  court  business,  sir.  But  I 
thank  you  for  your  kindness.  Will  you  answer  me  one 
question  frankly  ?  " 

"  Yes,"  Sir  Keith  answered  with  a  friendly  smile,  for 
he  felt  greatly  drawn  to  this  man  and  would  gladly  have 
helped  him  in  any  way  that  was  possible. 

"  However  great  becomes  this  agitation  for  reform  in 
the  Congo,  however  great  pressure  is  brought  to  bear 
upon  you  as  foreign  secretary,  shall  you  stick  to  what 
you  have  just  told  me,  namely,  that  you  will  go  no  further 
than  making  representations  to  the  Belgian  govern- 
ment ?  "  Gaunt  asked  earnestly. 

"  That  is  as  far  as  I  intend  to  go,  unless  there  is  a 
very  material  alteration  in  the  international  position  in 
Europe." 

"  Which  isn't  likely  !  " 

"  Which  is  very  improbable.  And  now  I  hope 
that  you  will  give  me  the  assurance  for  which  I  have 
asked." 


220 THE    VOW 

"  I  regret  that  it  is  impossible,  but  believe  me,  Sir 
Keith,  that  I  shall  always  be  grateful  to  you  for  the  con- 
sideration you  have  shown  me  to-day.  If,  in  the  future, 
I  am  fated  to  act  contrary  to  your  wishes  and  in  a  way 
that  you  will  condemn,  I  ask  you  to  think  of  me  as 
leniently  as  possible,"  Gaunt  said,  and  his  voice  shook  a 
little. 

"  I  don't  know  at  what  you  are  hinting,  Mr.  Gaunt ; 
but  when  this  Congo  agitation  is  forgotten  I  can  only  say 
that  I  should  like  to  know  you.  It  seems  to  me  that 
we  have  many  interests  in  common.  May  I  look  round 
your  shelves  ?  I  still  have  an  hour  to  spare,"  Sir  Keith 
said  genially. 

And  Gaunt  proceeded  to  point  out  his  treasures,  and 
the  talk  became  animated,  as  they  discussed  the  beauties 
of  some  of  the  rare  volumes.  The  Shakespeare  folios 
came  in  for  great  attention,  and  Sir  Keith  was  frankly  en- 
vious. 

"  What  it  is  to  be  a  poor  man  when  money  will  buy 
such  things  as  these,"  he  said  with  a  sigh. 

While  they  were  in  the  midst  of  their  engrossing  talk 
Lady  Mildred  came  in,  for  she  had  been  made  anxious 
by  their  long  conference.  Tea  was  served  and  Sir  Keith 
showed  her  great  attention,  but  all  the  time  he  was 
studying  the  husband  and  wife,  and  soon  came  to  the 
conclusion  that  they  loved  one  another.  For  a  moment 
he  was  tempted  to  try  to  use  Lady  Mildred  in  a  last  at- 
tempt to  influence  Gaunt,  but  quickly  the  idea  was  dis- 
missed as  an  unworthy  one.  And  at  last  he  rose. 

"  I  hope  to  be  able  to  follow  up  this  meeting  with 
your  husband,  if  he  will  allow  me  to  do  so,"  he  said  to 
her  pleasantly,  and  that  was  the  only  occasion  on  which 


THE    VOW  221 


he  made  a  remark  that  might  have  been  construed  as  a 
reference  to  the  Congo  question. 

When  he  had  gone  Gaunt  turned  to  his  wife  and 
spoke  with  deep  earnestness. 

"  That  is  a  man,  Mildred,  and  I  hate  to  have  to  fight 
against  him.  But " 

He  broke  off,  for  her  arms  were  round  him  and  she 
kissed  him  passionately. 

"  No  stupid  politics,  an  you  love  me,"  she  whispered. 


CHAPTER   XXVIII 

GAUNT  understood  that  Sir  Keith  was  not  bluf- 
fing in  what  he  had  said,  and  this  knowledge 
made  a  complete  change  in  his  plans.     After 
dinner  he  summoned  Edward  Drake  and  his  brother  to 
the  library,  and  proceeded  to  inform  them  of  what  had 
taken  place,  but  did   not  mention  the  Marillier  affair. 
Lady  Mildred  came  in  soon  after  he  had  begun  to  speak 
and  she  drew  back  when  she  saw  them  so  deeply  en- 
gaged. 

"  Drake,  I  wondered  if  we  might  take  Lady  Mildred 
into  our  confidence  ?  "  Gaunt  asked  abruptly. 

Edward  Drake  did  not  answer  at  once,  for  he  saw 
danger  ahead.  As  a  matter  of  fact  Gaunt  had  spoken 
upon  the  impulse  of  the  moment  —  a  rare  occurrence  — 
and  now  it  was  difficult  to  draw  back.  Indeed,  Lady 
Mildred  did  not  give  him  an  opportunity  for  she  drew  a 
chair  close  to  her  huband. 

"Although  I  am  a  woman  I  can  keep  a  secret,"  she 
said  reproachfully  to  Edward  Drake,  and  he  flushed  a 
little  but  made  no  reply. 

"  To  understand,  Mildred,  you  must  first  realize  that 
Mr.  Drake  and  myself  have  vowed,"  he  flushed  as  he 
spoke  the  word,  "  have  vowed  to  help  the  natives  of  the 
Congo  whatever  may  be  the  cost  to  ourselves." 

"  Mr.  Gaunt  may  also  count  me  as  having  made  the 
same  vow,"  Lindsay  Drake  broke  in  eagerly. 

222 


THE   VOW  223 


"  From  my  interview  with  the  foreign  secretary,  I  am 
convinced  that  there  can  be  no  help  from  the  British 
government,  however  great  the  agitation  may  become. 
That  being  so  we  must  fall  back  upon  the  plan  we  men- 
tioned some  time  ago,  and  there  must  be  no  time  lost  in 
putting  it  into  execution,"  Gaunt  said  slowly  and  ex- 
pressively. 

"  You  mean  the  '  cruiser '  scheme,"  Lindsay  Drake 
cried,  and  his  eyes  were  alight  with  excitement. 

"  Yes,  and  I  have  ascertained  that  at  the  present  mo- 
ment there  is  a  small  cruiser  undergoing  her  trials.  She 
was  built  on  the  Tyne  for  the  San  Salvador  Republic 
and  is  the  very  ship  for  us,  especially  as  the  San 
Salvador  finances  are  in  a  bad  state,  and  they  are  hard 
pushed  to  find  money.  Our  first  step  is  to  begin  nego- 
tiations with  the  San  Salvador  representatives,  and  I 
think  that  they  will  jump  at  the  idea,  so  that  we  ought  to 
be  able  to  hire  the  cruiser  at  a  reasonable  price.  It  is 
important  that  my  name  shall  not  appear  in  the  negotia- 
tions for  I  anticipate  that  the  Baron  will  be  closely 
watching  my  every  movement.  My  difficulty  is  to  find 
a  man  to  conduct  this  negotiation." 

"  I  will  do  it,"  Lindsay  Drake  cried  quickly. 

"  You  hold  a  commission  in  the  army.  It  may  be 
dangerous  work,"  Gaunt  answered. 

"  I  am  willing  to  run  the  risk." 

"  I  think  I  am  the  more  suitable  person  in  every  way," 
Edward  Drake  intervened. 

"  I  agree  with  you,"  Gaunt  answered,  "  for  I  have 
other  work  for  your  brother.  The  engineers  and  artif- 
icers will  be  easily  found,  for  we  are  willing  to  pay  them 
well.  But  the  other  men  will  require  careful  selection. 


224  THE    VOW 

We  shall  want  a  number  of  men  with  military  training, 
and  can  you  find  them  ?  They  must  not  be  '  wasters,' 
and  they  must  be  able  to  hold  their  tongues.  My  pres- 
ent idea  is  that  these  men  should  concentrate  at  the 
Canary  Islands  where  the  cruiser  could  pick  them  up. 
Can  I  leave  this  part  of  the  business  in  your  hands  ? '' 
Gaunt  asked  of  Captain  Drake. 

"  Yes,  I  think  I  can  manage  it.  At  the  present  mo- 
ment I  know  dozens  of  men  —  gentlemen  —  who  would 
be  keen  at  the  chance  of  going  with  us,  just  for  the  fun 
of  the  thing.  I  am  one  of  them,"  the  latter  answered. 

"  It  is  a  mad  idea,"  Lady  Mildred  cried  vehemently  f 
"  and  a  dangerous  one.  Should  you  go  on  the  cruiser?  " 
she  asked  with  a  look  of  anxiety  at  her  husband. 

"  I  could  not  very  well  let  the  others  go  and  stay  at 
home,"  Gaunt  answered  with  a  smile.  "At  first,  the 
scheme  may  seem  a  little  mad,  but  if  you  look  into  it 
you  will  see  that  it  is  quite  feasible.  As  soon  as  we 
leave  the  Canary  Islands  we  shall  be  all  right.  The 
danger  is  that  our  plans  may  be  discovered  before  we 
can  get  away.  There  is  that  wretched  Foreign  Enlist- 
ment Act." 

"  I  am  sure  I  can  get  the  right  sort  of  men  who  won't 
blab,"  Lindsay  Drake  said  confidently. 

They  proceeded  to  discuss  their  plans  in  detail,  and  it 
was  decided  that  negotiations  should  be  commenced  the 
next  day  for  the  hiring  of  the  cruiser.  Lady  Mildred  did 
not  interrupt  them  and  upon  realizing  that  their  talk  was 
likely  to  be  a  prolonged  one,  she  rose,  and  bade  them 
good-night. 

Captain  Drake  was  the  next  to  depart  for  he  expected 
Gaunt  and  his  brother  wished  to  be  alone,  and  in  this  he 


THE    VOW  225 

was  right.  But  there  was  silence  for  some  time  after  he 
had  gone,  until  Gaunt  began  to  tell  of  his  interview  with 
the  foreign  secretary  which  concerned  the  Marillier  affair. 

"And  there  can  be  no  doubt  that  the  Baron  will 
cany  out  his  threat,"  he  wound  up. 

"  He  is  a  dangerous  enemy,  and  the  terrible  part  is 
that  we  can  do  nothing.  Do  you  think  that  the 
magistrate  would  be  likely  to  send  you  to  the  Congo  for 
trial  ?  "  Drake  asked  in  a  low  voice. 

"  It  is  extremely  unlikely,  for  I  don't  see  how  they 
can  get  the  evidence.  Indeed,  I  am  not  certain  that  the 
Baron  expects  to  succeed.  He  merely  wishes  to  blacken 
my  character  and  close  my  mouth.  There  is  the  Amanti 
deal  and  this  coming  on  the  top  of  it  will  be  likely  to 
make  the  public  believe  that  I  am  not  the  kind  of  man 
who  would  be  interested  in  the  Congo,  merely  out  of 
consideration  for  the  welfare  of  the  natives.  And  the 
public  would  have  been  right  in  thinking  that  a  little 
time  ago.  In  fact  I  myself  find  it  difficult  to  know  what 
is  my  real  motive.  A  good  deal  to  do  with  it  is  a 
natural  love  of  a  fight." 

"  You  are  not  just  to  yourself,  for  I  am  convinced  that 
you  are  as  desirous  as  I  am  to  help  the  natives.  Don't 
think  me  impertinent  if  I  say  that  I  have  noticed 
changes  in  your  character.  When  we  first  met  you 
were  a  hard  man  and  devoid  of  human  sympathy.  You 
have  allowed  me  to  see  something  of  the  real  Gaunt  and 
I  understand  the  reason  of  your  change.  But  do  you 
think  you  were  wise  to  let  your  wife  know  of  our 
plans  ?  "  Drake  asked  quietly. 

"  Why  do  you  ask  that  question  ? "  Gaunt  cried  im- 
patiently. 


226 THE    VOW 

"  Remember  her  first  remark.  She  wished  to  know  if 
you  yourself  would  go.  Naturally  she  imagines  that 
there  would  be  danger  in  such  an  expedition  and  she 
loves  you ;  need  I  say  more  ?  " 

"  My  wife  will  not  try  to  persuade  me  to  stay  at  home," 
Gaunt  answered  grimly. 

"  I  am  not  so  sure  of  that." 

"  We  won't  discuss  it,"  Gaunt  broke  in  quickly. 
"  Last  night  I  did  not  sleep  very  well  and  in  my  mind 
I  went  over  everything  I  had  done  since  we  first  met. 
Tell  me  honestly,  have  I  so  far  carried  out  my  vow  ?  " 

"  Yes.  You  have  done  as  much  as  mortal  man  could 
do.  I  have  been  afraid,  at  times,  that  you  had  lost  sight 
of  that  motive,  and  were  acting  from  a  wish  to  get  the 
better  of  the  Baron.  May  I  tell  you  what  is  in  my 
mind  ?  "  Drake  asked  hesitatingly. 

"  I  prefer  absolute  frankness." 

"  I  have  been  afraid  that  now  you  have  won  your 
wife's  love  you  would  weaken  in  your  purpose.  You 
have  obtained  all  that  you  desired,  and  I  thought  that 
the  temptation  to  enjoy  your  happiness  would  be  too 
great." 

"  I  have  been  tempted,  Drake,  but  I  am  not  that  sort 
of  man.  I  made  a  bargain  and  will  carry  it  out  faithfully." 

"  And  if  Lady  Mildred  tries  to  persuade  you  to  give 
it  up  ?  "  Drake  persisted. 

"  I  said  before  that  she  will  not  do  so.  If  she  does,  it 
will  make  no  difference." 

"  But  already  you  have  given  in,  for  you  had  deter- 
mined that  you  would  not  try  to  win  your  wife  until  you 
could  go  to  her  with  clean  hands." 

Gaunt's  face  flushed  at  the  rebuke,  for  he  could  not 


THE    VOW  227 

deny  its  justice,  and  it  was  impossible  to  explain  that  he 
had  made  no  effort  to  win  Lady  Mildred,  so  he  remained 
silent. 

"  I  have  a  presentiment  that  misfortune  is  near  at 
hand.  Gaunt,  won't  you  go  to  your  wife  and  tell  her  of 
that  other  thing  ?  It  seems  to  me  that  you  have  gained 
her  love  under  false  pretenses,"  Drake  continued  in  a 
low  voice. 

Gaunt  rose  from  his  chair  and  uttered  an  exclamation 
of  anger. 

"  Drake,  you  are  going  -too  far,"  he  cried  vehemently, 
for  the  accusation  had  struck  home. 

"  I  only  wish  to  save  you  from  great  trouble,  and  it  is 
not  an  easy  task  to  say  these  things  for  I  recognize  what 
a  hard  task  I  am  setting  you.  Remember  your  vow  — 
you  promised  that  your  future  life  should  be  lived  in 
accordance  with  the  teaching  of  Christ.  It  was  an 
almost  superhuman  task  that  you  set  yourself,  for  you 
lacked  belief  in  the  love  of  Christ  and  the  Christian 
spirit  which  alone  could  give  you  the  strength  to  carry 
out  your  determination.  Don't  think  I  want  to  preach 
to  you,  Gaunt,  but  I  fear  that  you  will  fail,  unless  you 
force  yourself  to  regard  everything  from  a  different  point 
of  view.  You  told  me  that  you  believe  that  God  had 
given  you  your  wife's  life  in  answer  to  your  prayer.  Do 
you  still  believe  that  ?  "  Drake  asked  gently. 

"Yes." 

There  was  a  strained  look  in  Gaunt's  eyes  as  he 
whispered  the  single  word. 

"  Then  you  must  believe  in  the  efficacy  of  prayer. 
Ask  God  to  give  you  the  strength  to  make  a  complete 
confession  to  Lady  Mildred." 


228  THE    VOW 

"  I  cannot  do  it,"  Gaunt  answered  miserably. 

Drake  sighed  wearily  and  rising  stood  face  to  face 
with  the  man,  whom  he  longed  so  intensely  to  help. 

"  God  did  not  fail  you  when  you  prayed  in  despera- 
tion. Go  to  Him  again." 

The  words  were  spoken  with  deep  earnestness  and 
Gaunt  was  moved,  but  there  was  ever  before  him  the 
fear  of  the  distress  that  would  come  into  his  wife's  eyes, 
when  she  should  hear  his  miserable  story. 

"  Shall  I  tell  her  for  you  ?  "  Drake  insisted  quietly. 

"  No,  no !  "  was  the  vehement  answer.  "  I  am  not 
such  an  abject  coward." 

Gaunt  turned  away  with  a  groan  and  began  to  pace 
restlessly  to  and  fro,  while  Drake's  eyes  followed  him, 
filled  with  eager  expectation.  It  was  some  time  before 
either  of  them  spoke  but  at  last  Gaunt  stopped  suddenly. 

"  I  will  not  make  you  a  promise  which  I  may  not  be 
able  to  fulfil,  but  I  will  think  it  over,"  he  said  with  a 
roughness  that  was  intended  to  hide  his  weakness. 

After  a  tight  grip  of  the  hands  the  men  parted,  and 
Gaunt  went  straight  to  his  wife's  room,  for  he  felt  sure 
that  she  had  not  gone  to  bed. 

In  fact  Lady  Mildred  had  been  anxiously  awaiting  him 
for  she  wished  to  talk  over  with  him  the  scheme  which 
had  been  unfolded  in  her  presence,  but  at  the  sight  of 
his  white  face  she  quickly  determined  to  postpone  the 
discussion.  Gaunt  was  surprised  at  her  silence  upon  the 
subject,  but  their  love  was  a  new  and  very  precious 
thing,  and  as  they  sat  before  the  fire  his  indecision  van- 
ished. 

They  were  both  supremely  happy,  and  their  eyes  would 
meet,  brimming  over  with  the  love  that  they  found  so 


THE    VOW  229 


strangely  sweet.  And  Gaunt  knew  that  he  would  never 
have  the  courage  to  jeopardize  all  that  made  life  worth 
the  living. 

Her  upbringing  was  such  a  one  as  would  cause  her  to 
regard  with  horror  the  shedding  of  blood,  and  she  would 
not  be  able  to  understand  how  it  had  happened.  Then, 
too,  there  were  such  sordid  surroundings,  which  it  would 
be  impossible  for  him  to  explain. 

When  she  left  him  he  sat  there  for  a  while,  and  his 
thoughts  were  not  pleasant,  for  it  was  impossible  to 
conceal  from  himself  that  he  was  not  honestly  carrying 
out  his  vow.  Drake's  words  had  disturbed  him,  and  he 
found  it  difficult  to  quiet  his  awakened  conscience. 

At  last  he  went  to  his  dressing-room  and  threw  off  his 
coat,  but  his  actions  were  very  slow,  and  now  and  then 
he  would  stop  and  stand  still  with  a  frown  on  his  face. 

When  he  had  finished  undressing  a  sudden  impulse 
seized  him,  and  he  sank  on  to  his  knees  beside  the  bed. 
Words  would  not  come  and  still  he  did  not  move.  His 
eyes  were  closed,  and  his  quick  breathing  could  be 
heard. 

The  door  opened  quietly,  and  Lady  Mildred  stood  in 
the  doorway,  a  look  of  surprise  springing  to  her  face. 
But  she  uttered  no  word,  and  left  as  silently  as  she  had 
entered,  and  Gaunt  wrestled  with  himself. 


CHAPTER  XXIX 

BARON  DE  CROISEUIL  had  half  expected  to 
hear  from  Gaunt,  for  he  imagined  that  the  papers 
which  he  had  left  with  Sir  Keith  Hamilton  might 
have  caused  that  gentleman  to  communicate  with  the 
millionaire,  with  the  idea  of  persuading  him  into  silence. 
A  couple  of  days  passed  and  it  was  very  evident  that 
something  must  be  done  without  delay,  and  the  Baron 
reluctantly  decided  to  cause  an  application  to  be  made  at 
Bow  Street  to  secure  a  warrant  for  Gaunt's  arrest.  By 
this  time  numerous  documents  had  arrived  from  Brussels, 
and  among  them  were  affidavits  sufficiently  strong  to 
make  out  a  prima  facie  case  of  murder.  There  were 
numberless  ex-Congo  officials  in  Belgium  who  would  be 
prepared  to  swear  to  anything  for  a  consideration,  for 
their  morals  were  warped,  and  their  greed  for  gold  insati- 
able. 

So  the  Baron  interviewed  Mr.  Simon  Stone  —  the 
notorious  solicitor,  who  was  engaged  in  every  case  where 
dirty  work  was  required  to  be  done  skillfully,  and-  gave 
him  full  instructions.  But  as  he  walked  back  to  his  hotel, 
De  Croiseuil  was  not  altogether  satisfied  with  what  he 
had  done,  for  he  knew  that  his  case  was  a  weak  one,  and 
that  the  arrest  of  John  Gaunt  would  cause  a  great  outcry. 
But  it  was  not  his  wish  to  proceed  to  that  extremity,  and 
as  he  strolled  along  Piccadilly,  he  saw  approaching  a 
gentleman,  at  the  sight  of  whom  he  uttered  an  exclama- 
tion of  satisfaction. 

230 


THE    VOW  231 

"  It  is  really  a  pleasure  to  see  you.  I  did  not  know 
you  were  in  London,"  he  began  effusively. 

Lord  Lynton,  for  it  was  he,  did  not  at  first  recognize 
the  Baron,  for  it  was  some  time  since  they  had  met,  but 
recollection  came  at  last. 

"  You  are  looking  very  fit,"  he  remarked  politely. 

"  Will  you  not  come  as  far  as  the  Ritz  with  me  ?  It  is 
just  time  for  dejeuner,  and  you  are  the  very  man  I 
wanted  to  see." 

The  Earl  hesitated,  and  the  Baron  continued  quickly. 

"  It  concerns  your  brother-in-law,  Mr.  Gaunt.  For  the 
sake  of  your  family,  I  ask  you  to  come,"  he  wound  up 
earnestly. 

Lord  Lynton  no  longer  hesitated,  and  the  two  men 
hastened  along  in  silence,  but  as  soon  as  they  had  entered 
the  sitting-room,  the  Baron's  face  grew  very  grave. 

"  It  was  fortunate  that  we  met,  as  your  lordship  may 
prevent  something  very  like  a  tragedy  from  taking  place. 
But  we  will  not  talk  till  we  have  eaten,"  he  said,  and 
ringing  the  bell,  ordered  that  lunch  should  be  served 
immediately. 

The  meal  was  short  but  excellent  and  the  Baron  did 
justice  to  it,  but  the  Earl  was  evidently  occupied  with  his 
thoughts,  which  were  the  reverse  of  pleasant.  To  do 
him  justice,  he  had  ceased  to  consider  himself,  although 
it  was  very  unpleasant  to  read  each  day  the  attacks  upon 
the  man  who  was  his  brother-in-law.  But  Lady  Mildred 
must  be  protected  and  he  remembered  that  Gaunt  had 
been  confident  that  the  Baron  was  responsible  for  the 
articles  appearing  against  him  in  the  newspapers. 

"  What  is  this  tragedy  of  which  you  speak  ?  "  he  asked 
as  they  lighted  their  cigarettes. 


232  THE    VOW 


"  First  of  all,  I  want  you  to  bear  in  mind  that  I  am 
only  doing  my  duty.  I  have  a  great  admiration  for  Mr. 
Gaunt,  and  I  deeply  regret  the  necessity  of  harming  him. 
You  are  aware  of  what  has  happened,  and  so  it  is  unnec- 
essary to  weary  you  with  details.  You  know  that  he 
has  turned  on  his  old  friends  in  a  scandalous  manner,  and 
is  raising  a  bitter  but  unjustified  feeling  against  my  coun- 
try. May  I  ask  a  question  ?  Have  you  come  to  England 
owing  to  this  ?  " 

"  Yes,"  the  Earl  answered  quietly. 

"  Ah !  I  thought  I  could  trace  the  cunning  hand  of 
my  friend  Sir  Keith.  But  I  fear  you  have  been  unsuc- 
cessful in  your  mission.  Gaunt  is  terribly  obstinate. 
May  I  ask  if  Sir  Keith  mentioned  /  'affaire  Marillier  ?  " 

"  No.     This  is  the  first  I  have  heard  of  it." 

"  It  is  a  most  deplorable  business,  but  I  think  that  it  is 
as  well  that  you  should  know,  for  it  concerns  Mr.  Gaunt. 
I  will  be  very  short,  and  simply  say  that  Marillier  was 
one  of  our  officials  who  met  with  an  untimely  end,  for  he 
was  shot  by  a  brother  official.  In  fact  he  was  murdered, 
and  the  man  who  killed  him  was  John  Gaunt,"  the  Baron 
said  quietly. 

Lord  Lynton  rose  to  his  feet,  and  looked  down  at  the 
Belgian  in  blank  amazement. 

"You  are  accusing  Mr.  Gaunt  of  murder?"  he  cried 
harshly. 

"  Yes,  it  is  very  unfortunate,  and  I  am  greatly  dis- 
tressed, especially  as  I  have  this  morning  given  instruc- 
tions that  an  application  shall  be  made  for  a  warrant  for 
his  arrest.  Pray  believe  that  I  hated  having  to  do  this, 
but  helas,  I  am  but  a  subordinate,  and  I  am  compelled 
to  obey  orders." 


THE    VOW  233 


"  This  affair  must  have  happened  many  years  ago. 
May  I  ask  you  why  you  have  only  just  thought  ot 
taking  proceedings  ?  " 

The  Baron  did  not  answer,  but  shrugged  his  shoulders 
expressively. 

"  Your  motive  is  quite  clear.  You  have  no  hope  that 
he  will  be  found  guilty,  but  you  think  that  by  this  means 
you  will  discredit  him.  Baron,  your  conduct  is  in 
keeping  with  your  other  actions  in  the  Congo.  It  is  a 
knavish  trick,"  the  Earl  cried  contemptuously. 

"  It  is  unwise  to  insult  me,  whose  only  wish  is  to  be 
your  friend.  We  will  not  discuss  the  ethics  of  the 
matter,  but  I  will  hint  that  these  proceedings  may  be 
still  stopped  by  a  simple  promise." 

."  I  understand.  You  wish  me  to  tell  Gaunt  that  if  he 
will  shut  up,  you  are  willing  to  drop  V affaire  Marillier." 

"  Precisely,  and  I  am  sure  that  you  will  appreciate 
which  way  Gaunt's  interests  lie.  There  is  also  his  wife, 
Lady  Mildred,  to  be  considered.  You  are  her  brother, 
and  surely  you  have  the  right  to  speak  forcibly.  If  you 
succeed,  not  only  will  you  be  doing  me  a  favor 
but " 

"  I  have  not  the  slightest  wish  to  do  you  a  favor,"  the 
Earl  cried  contemptuously. 

"  It  matters  not,  so  long  as  you  bring  about  the 
desired  end.  I  was  about  to  say  that  you  will  also  be 
pleasing  Sir  Keith  Hamilton.  Perhaps  this  fact  will 
appeal  to  you,"  the  Baron  said  drily. 

"  Do  you  say  that  you  have  actually  given  the  lawyer 
instructions  to  apply  for  a  warrant  ?  "  the  Earl  demanded 
abruptly. 

"  Yes.    A  few  hours  ago." 


234 THE    VOW 

"  Then  there  is  no  time  to  be  lost.  I  presume  that 
you  have  the  power  of  stopping  the  proceedings  if 
Gaunt  submits  to  what  you  want  ?  " 

"  Yes.  Extradition  matters  are  different  from  your 
criminal  law.  All  you  need  do  is  to  'phone  me  that 
Mr.  Gaunt  has  become  reasonable,  and  I  will  see  to  the 
rest.  You  are  going,  my  lord.  Then  I  will  wait  here 
till  I  hear  from  you." 

The  two  men  exchanged  bows,  and  Lord  Lynton 
hurried  to  the  door,  where  he  was  fortunate  enough  to 
get  a  taxi-cab  without  any  delay.  He  had  seen  but  little 
of  John  Gaunt,  for  his  brother-in-law  had  been  very 
busy,  and  had  been  away  each  day  until  dinner  time,  so 
that  he  was  not  very  hopeful  of  finding  him  at  Park 
Lane. 

"  Is  your  master  in  ? "  he  demanded  of  the  footman 
who  answered  the  ring. 

"  Yes,  my  lord.  He  is  with  her  ladyship,  in  her  lady- 
ship's room." 

The  Earl  ran  rapidly  up  the  stairs,  and  found  Gaunt 
and  Lady  Mildred  engaged  in  admiring  the  baby.  In 
fact  they  were  laughing  heartily  as  they  watched  the 
infant's  lusty  kicks. 

"  Gaunt,  I  want  a  word  with  you.  Will  you  come  to 
the  library  ?  "  Lord  Lynton  said  almost  curtly,  and  Lady 
Mildred  gave  him  a  quick  look  of  curiosity. 

She  rang  the  bell  for  the  nurse,  and  then  rested  her 
hand  on  her  husband's  arm. 

"  I  will  come  with  you.  Geoffrey,  you  look  very 
tragic,"  she  remarked  lightly. 

But  he  was  not  in  the  mood  for  bandying  words,  and 
his  lips  were  tightly  pressed  together  as  he  faced  them. 


THE    VOW  235 

"  Mildred,  you  appear  to  enjoy  your  husband's  con- 
fidence. Has  he  told  you  of  the  Marillier  business  ?  "  he 
asked  coldly. 

"  No.  What  is  it?  But  don't  answer,  for  John  may 
not  wish  me  to  know,"  she  added  quickly. 

For  the  moment  Gaunt  was  tempted  to  seize  this 
loophole  and  escape,  but  only  for  a  moment.  He  could 
still  feel  her  hand  resting  on  his  arm,  so  very  gently  he 
disengaged  it. 

"  You  have  the  right  to  know,  but  you  should  have 
heard  it  from  me,  coward  that  I  am,"  he  muttered 
hoarsely. 

And  he  blamed  himself  bitterly  for  his  weakness. 
What  a  fool  he  had  been  in  not  following  Edward 
Drake's  advice. 

His  words  drove  the  color  from  Lady  Mildred's  face, 
for  she  realized  that  she  was  about  to  hear  something 
that  might  affect  the  happiness  which  these  last  few  days 
had  been  well-nigh  perfect.  And  instinctively  she  drew 
closer  to  the  man  whom  she  had  grown  to  love  so 
passionately. 

"  I  have  just  come  from  the  Baron  de  Croiseuil,  and  he 
tells  me  that  a  warrant  is  about  to  be  issued  for  your 
arrest,"  the  Earl  announced  bluntly. 

The  sight  of  his  sister's  evident  love  had  driven  away 
every  feeling  of  compassion,  and  he  wished  to  hurt  this 
stern-faced  man.  But  in  his  desire,  Lady  Mildred  had 
been  forgotten,  and  she  uttered  a  cry  that  wrung  his 
heart  with  its  pain. 

"  What  does  it  mean,  John  ?  Why  should  they  wish 
to  arrest  you  ?  What  have  you  done  ? "  she  cried 
breathlessly,  and  her  bosom  rose  and  fell  quickly. 


236  THE    VOW 

Gaunt  took  her  hand  in  his  and  there  was  a  great  pity 
in  his  eyes. 

"  Mildred,  I  killed  a  man,  and " 

"  The  charge  is  one  of  murder,"  the  Earl  interrupted 
brutally. 

To  do  him  justice,  it  was  with  a  good  motive,  that  of 
thoroughly  frightening  his  sister,  so  that  she  would 
compel  Gaunt  to  give  way. 

"  It  cannot  be  more  than  manslaughter.  I  killed  a  man 
but  it  was  in  self-defense.  Mildred,  let  me  tell  you  the 
whole  story,"  said  Gaunt,  and  his  voice  was  low  with  a 
note  of  anguish. 

"  There  is  no  time  for  that.  I  tell  you  that  the  war- 
rant for  your  arrest  may  already  be  issued,  but  there 
is  a  way  to  prevent  all  this  trouble.  Give  me  your  word 
that  this  Congo  agitation  shall  end,  and  you  will  hear  no 
more  of  it,"  the  Earl  said  slowly  and  emphatically. 

Lady  Mildred  turned  to  her  husband  with  a  glad 
cry. 

"  Surely  you  will  do  that,  John  ?  Think  what  it 
means.  Although  you  are  innocent,  they  will  drag  you 
to  prison,  and  —  I  cannot  think  of  it.  Why  do  you  hesi- 
tate, John  dearest  ?  Look  at  me.  I  love  you,  John,  and 
you  cannot  be  so  cruel.  They  will  take  you  from  me 
and  —  Geoffrey,  go  to  the  Baron  at  once.  Tell  him  that 
John  consents,"  she  cried  vehemently. 

And  John  Gaunt  struggled  with  the  great  temptation 
of  his  life. 

"  Mildred,  you  do  not  turn  from  me  because  I  killed 
this  man  ?  "  he  asked  eagerly. 

"  No,  no,  John.  But  send  Geoffrey.  Tell  him  to 
go." 


THE    VOW  237 

Gaunt's  face  had  brightened  wonderfully,  and  he  no 
longer  hesitated. 

"  Stay,"  he  cried  to  the  Earl,  who  had  reached  the 
door. 

The  latter  turned  with  a  look  of  inquiry  on  his  face. 
But  he  had  no  doubt  that  he  had  won. 

"  You  will  not  go  to  the  Baron.  Let  him  do  his  worst," 
Gaunt  said  quietly. 

"  John,  you  cannot  mean  it.  By  our  love  I  implore 
you  to  give  way.  I  will  bless  you  till  my  dying  day. 
Think  of  the  baby.  Thin.k  of  me,  dearest.  They  will 
take  you  to  prison  —  you,  my  husband.  I  cannot  bear 
it,  John." 

She  sank  back  into  a  chair  and  covered  her  face  with 
her  hands,  sobbing  passionately. 

"  You  cannot  hesitate,"  the  Earl  said  harshly. 

A  knock  at  the  door  and  Edward  Drake  entered. 

"  Gaunt,  there  is  an  inspector  of  police  below.  He 
wishes  to  see  you,"  he  announced,  and  there  was  deep 
sympathy  on  his  face. 

"  Mr.  Drake,  you  have  influence  with  my  husband. 
He  only  has  to  send  word  to  the  Baron  and  the  proceed- 
ings will  be  stopped,"  Lady  Mildred  cried  imploringly. 
"  I  know  that  you  do  not  like  me,  but  you  are  my  hus- 
band's friend.  Advise  him  to  consent." 

In  her  anguish  Lady  Mildred  had  clasped  Drake's 
hands  and  he  stood  there  motionless,  with  his  eyes  fixed 
on  Gaunt. 

"  Mr.  Gaunt  will  do  what  he  thinks  to  be  right,"  he 
said,  and  his  voice  shook  with  emotion. 

"  John,  do  you  still  hesitate  ? "  she  cried  piteously. 
"  You  owe  me  something.  I  have  given  you  all  the  love 


238  THE    VOW 


of  which  I  am  capable.  I  have  been  generous,  for  I  have 
sunk  my  pride,  and  I  will  do  so  again  for  your  happiness. 
Speak  to  me,  dearest." 

"  I  cannot  give  the  Baron  the  promise  he  requires," 
Gaunt  said,  and  the  fierce  attempt  to  crush  down  his  emo- 
tion made  his  voice  sound  hard  in  his  wife's  ears. 

•With  a  cry  she  came  towards  him,  and  all  appeal  had 
left  her  face. 

"  If  you  will  not  do  this  for  me,  then  I  swear  that  I 
will  never  forgive  you.  Your  love  is  a  pretense."  She 
turned  suddenly  to  Drake.  "  It  is  your  fault.  It  is 
you  who  make  my  husband  act  in  this  way.  Undo 
your  work  or  I  can  make  you  suffer,  for  I  know  that  you 
care  for  my  sister." 

But  as  she  looked  from  Drake  to  her  husband,  she 
knew  that  it  was  hopeless,  and  with  a  cry  of  anguish  she 
fell  back  into  her  brother's  arms.  Gaunt  sprang  forward, 
kissed  her  tenderly,  and  without  looking  back  strode 
from  the  room. 

"  Curse  the  vow,"  he  said  savagely  to  Drake,  who  ac- 
companied him. 

The  inspector  had  awaited  him  in  the  library  and  he 
came  forward. 

"  Mr.  Gaunt,  I  hold  a  warrant  for  your  arrest,"  he  said 
respectfully. 

"  I  am  ready,"  Gaunt  answered  quietly. 

And  the  inspector  proceeded  to  read  the  warrant,  but 
he  was  quickly  interrupted. 

"  I  understand  the  charge,"  Gaunt  cried  impatiently. 
"  Do  you  wish  to  handcuff  me  ?  " 

"  No,  sir.     I  have  a  taxi-cab  at  the  door." 

"  Shall  I  come  with  you  ?  "  Drake  asked  quietly: 


THE    VOW  239 

"  No,  stay  and  try  to  comfort  my  wife.  In  the  mean- 
time see  that  none  of  our  plans  are  delayed.  You 
and  your  brother  have  full  instructions,"  Gaunt  said 
quietly. 


CHAPTER  XXX 

DURING  the  drive  to  Bow  Street  Police  Station, 
John  Gaunt  could  think  of  nothing  else  save  his 
wife's  attitude,  and  it  was  with  a  deep  feeling  of 
relief  that  he  realized  his  fear  had  been  groundless.  It 
was  not  the  fact  that  he  had  killed  Marillier  that  had 
caused  her  distress,  but  the  danger  that  he  was  incurring. 
She  had  appealed  to  him  so  passionately,  inasmuch  as 
she  feared  for  his  safety,  and  the  thought  brought  him 
comfort. 

The  warrant  was  formally  read  over  to  him  in  the 
charge  room  and  he  was  at  once  conducted  to  a  cell, 
there  to  await  the  arrival  of  his  solicitor,  for  whom  he  had 
sent.  He  was  calm  and  collected  when  the  lawyer  ar- 
rived. 

"  I  am  glad  to  see  you,  Mr.  Stanley,"  he  remarked 
quietly,  and  then  proceeded  to  relate  what  had  hap- 
pened. 

The  solicitor  listened  attentively,  now  and  then  jotting 
down  a  note. 

"  Mr.  Gaunt,  the  best  thing  you  can  do  is  to  make 
terms  with  the  Baron  de  Croiseuil,"  Mr.  Stanley  said 
when  the  story  was  finished. 

"  You  may  dismiss  that  idea  from  your  mind.  I  in- 
tend to  fight  him,"  Gaunt  answered  sternly. 

"  I  see,"  the  solicitor  remarked  reflectively.  "  Of 
course  you  are  in  no  great  danger,  for  it  is  unlikely  that 

240 


THE    VOW 241 

they  will  convict  you  after  the  long  delay ;  but  you  will 
certainly  have  to  put  up  with  a  great  deal  of  inconve- 
nience. I  must  get  away  at  once,  for  I  should  like  Sir 
Richard  Tester  to  have  his  brief  to-night." 

"  You  think  that  he  is  the  best  man  ?  " 

"  Undoubtedly,  for  he  is  so  ultra-respectable.  Mark 
my  words,  the  other  side  will  have  Lester  Ruggles. 
Good-bye,  Mr.  Gaunt,  and  don't  worry  too  much.  You 
are  quite  sure  you  won't  make  terms  with  the  Baron  ?  " 

"  Quite.     Good-bye,"  Gaunt  answered  laconically. 

The  cell  was  not  entirely  .without  comfort,  and  he  set- 
tled himself  down  to  wait  for  the  morning.  Try  as  he 
would  he  could  not  prevent  himself  from  thinking  of 
Lady  Mildred,  and  he  wondered  how  this  wretched  busi- 
ness would  affect  their  relations.  However,  he  told  him- 
self that  her  love  would  rise  above  worldly  considerations 
and  that,  when  he  was  free,  she  would  receive  him  with 
open  arms. 

At  last  he  fell  asleep,  and  it  was  late  when  he  awak- 
ened. Mr.  Stanley  arrived  soon  after  ten  o'clock  and 
proceeded  to  question  him  closely.  He  then  hurried 
away  to  embody  the  information  he  had  received  in  the 
brief. 

It  was  not  until  twelve  o'clock  that  a  policeman  came 
and  announced  that  the  magistrate,  Sir  William  Chand- 
ler, had  arrived  and  that  his  attendance  was  required. 

Gaunt's  face  was  rather  pale,  but  his  expression  was 
calm  when  he  entered  the  crowded  court.  All  eyes  were 
turned  upon  him,  and  the  pencils  of  the  press  men  be- 
came busy  as  he  stood  in  the  dock  and  bowed  to  the 
magistrate. 

The  charge  was  read  by  the  clerk,  and  Mr.  Lester 


242  THE    VOW 

Ruggles,  K.  C.,  rose  to  his  feet.  He  was  a  barrister  of 
some  fame  and,  like  the  solicitor  who  instructed  him,  was 
retained  in  cases  which  counsel  of  better  repute  would 
refuse  to  handle.  But  he  was  skilled  in  the  law,  a  biting 
cross-examiner,  and  something  of  an  orator. 

"  I  appear  for  the  prosecution,  your  Worship,  and  at 
the  outset  I  must  ask  you  to  grant  an  adjournment.  I 
propose  merely  to  give  formal  notice  of  arrest" 

"  I  should  like  to  know  something  of  the  case,"  the 
magistrate  suggested  quietly. 

For  the  first  time  Gaunt  allowed  his  eyes  to  roam 
round  the  court  and  he  at  once  saw  two  ladies  heavily 
veiled  seated  a  few  rows  away.  It  did  not  need  the  sight 
of  Edward  Drake  to  tell  him  who  they  were,  and  his 
heart  was  beating  rapidly  when  he  recognized  his  wife. 

"  She  has  not  failed  me,"  was  his  thought,  and  instinc- 
tively his  shoulders  were  thrown  back,  and  a  smile  played 
about  his  mouth. 

"  The  case  is  a  very  serious  one,  for  it  involves  a 
charge  of  murder.  I  represent  the  Belgian  government, 
who  are  acting  for  the  authorities  of  the  Congo  Free 
State.  Your  Worship  is  probably  aware  that  the  Belgian 
colonial  office  has  taken  over  the  Free  State.  Some 
fifteen  years  ago  the  prisoner,  John  Gaunt,  entered  the 
service  of  the  Congo." 

"  Mr.  Ruggles,  am  I  to  understand  that  the  charge  of 
murder  dates  back  fifteen  years  ?  "  the  magistrate  asked 
quickly. 

"  That  is  so,  sir ;  but  I  think  I  shall  be  able  to  put  for- 
ward good  reasons  for  the  delay.  I  was  saying  that  the 
prisoner  entered  the  services  of  the  Free  State,  and  was 
appointed  to  the  charge  of  a  district.  It  is  necessary  that 


THE    VOW  243 


your  Worship  should  know  something  of  the  state  of  af- 
fairs in  that  country.  I  fear  that  the  morals  of  West  Af- 
rica are  such  that  we  should  not  understand  in  our  frigid 
climate,  and  I  regret  to  say  that  the  officials  have  been 
in  the  habit  of  providing  themselves  with  native  wives." 

The  color  slowly  ebbed  from  Gaunt's  face  as  he  lis- 
tened. There  was  a  touch  on  his  shoulder,  and  his  solic- 
itor whispered  in  his  ear. 

"  The  Baron  says  there  is  still  time." 

But  Gaunt  made  no  answer,  and  listened  eagerly  to 
what  Mr.  Ruggles  was  saying. 

"  It  appears  that  a  man  named  Marillier  possessed  such 
a  wife,  but  the  prisoner  cast  eyes  upon  her  and  deter- 
mined to  secure  her  for  himself.  Accordingly,  by  some 
means  or  other,  he  got  her  away,  and  as  a  consequence 
Marillier  felt  aggrieved.  A  quarrel  took  place,  and  the 
prisoner  deliberately  shot  the  man  that  he  had  wronged." 

The  words  then  became  a  mere  jumble  to  Gaunt's 
mind,  and  he  stood  there  utterly  dazed.  At  last  he  sum- 
moned up  courage  to  turn  his  head  and  his  breath  came 
with  a  hiss  of  apprehension  when  he  saw  that  his  wife 
had  gone. 

Gaunt  now  understood  the  unscrupulousness  of  the 
attack  upon  him,  and  his  lips  were  tightly  pressed  to- 
gether as  he  forced  himself  to  listen  to  the  prosecuting 
counsel's  lying  statement. 

"  I  have  here,  sir,  several  affidavits  which  depose  to 
the  facts  I  have  related,  but  you  will  readily  understand 
that  I  am  not  in  a  position  to  complete  my  case.  There 
are  important  witnesses  in  the  Congo,  and  I  fear  that  I 
must  ask  for  a  long  adjournment.  That  is,  unless  your 
Worship  would  be  prepared  to  commit  the  prisoner  for 


244  THE    VOW 

trial  upon  these  affidavits,  and  the  evidence  which  I  can 
obtain  immediately  from  Brussels." 

"  It  depends  entirely  upon  the  nature  of  that  evi- 
dence," the  magistrate  remarked  drily. 

"  It  is  unfortunate  that  the  only  witnesses  of  the  actual 
shooting  are  natives,  and  they,  of  course,  are  in  the 
Congo." 

"  It  seems  to  me  that  theirs  is  the  only  evidence  that  is' 
material  and  I  am  surprised  that  you  should  not  have 
brought  them  here  before  applying  for  a  warrant.  Un- 
der the  circumstances,  your  application  yesterday  should 
have  been  for  a  summons  and  not  for  a  warrant." 

Sir  Richard  Tester  rose  and  spoke  for  the  first  time. 

"  I  appear  for  the  prisoner,  and  I  propose  to  say  a  few 
words  on  that  subject,  if  my  learned  friend  has  quite 
finished,"  he  began  in  the  clear  ringing  voice,  with  its 
note  of  gentle  persuasion  which  helped  to  bring  him 
renown. 

"  I  would  suggest  that  you  grant  an  adjournment  for 
a  week,"  broke  in  Mr.  Ruggles,  "  when  I  will  proceed  to 
examine  the  witnesses  at  my  disposal.  I  shall  then  be  in 
a  better  position  to  tell  you  when  my  witnesses  will  ar- 
rive from  the  Congo." 

"  What  have  you  to  say,  Sir  Richard  ?  "  the  magistrate 
asked. 

The  famous  counsel  slowly  rose  and  took  up  his  gold- 
rimmed  eye-glasses  with  which  he  proceeded  to  punctu- 
ate his  remarks. 

"  In  the  first  place,  sir,  I  say  with  all  deliberation  that 
this  is  not  a  bona  fide  prosecution,  and  I  am  surprised 
that  my  learned  friend  should  have  lent  himself  to  such  a 
barefaced  proceeding.  It  is  necessary,  sir,  that  I  should 


THE    VOW  245 

trouble  you  at  some  length,  but  probably  you  are  aware 
that  Mr.  John  Gaunt  —  I  will  not  call  him  the  prisoner 
—  has  been  engaged  upon  a  humane  task,  that  of  rous- 
ing the  public  to  a  proper  appreciation  of  the  terrible 
conditions  under  which  the  natives  of  the  Congo  live. 
It  is  natural  to  believe  that  this  agitation  is  distinctly  un- 
palatable to  the  governors  of  the  Free  State,  and  I  say 
that  the  prosecution  has  been  brought  solely  with  the 
idea  of  discrediting  Mr.  Gaunt,  and  rendering  him  in- 
capable of  continuing  what  I  will  term  his  noble  work. 
I  take  the  first  opportunity,  of  denying  the  truth  of  the 
statement  which  you  have  just  heard  from  counsel,  and  I 
am  of  opinion  that  he  has  been  falsely  instructed  from 
motives  of  malice.  It  is  suggested  that  my  client  delib- 
erately shot  the  man  Marillier  under  the  most  discred- 
itable circumstances,  and  now  I  will  tell  you  what  really 
happened." 

Then  Sir  Richard  proceeded  to  speak  of  Gaunt's  sud- 
den appearance  at  the  flogging  of  the  native  girl,  and 
the  consequences  of  his  interference. 

"  I  suggest  that  the  facts  have  been  deliberately  mis- 
stated for  the  purpose  I  have  before  mentioned,  and  I 
maintain  that  the  prosecution  has  not  the  slightest  hope 
of  proving  what  they  have  put  forward.  Now  I  address 
a  larger  public  when  I  express  a  wish  that  these  proceed- 
ings shall  not  be  allowed  to  influence  Mr.  Gaunt's  work," 
he  wound  up  slowly  and  impressively. 

"  I  am  willing  to  adjourn  the  case  for  a  week,"  the 
magistrate  remarked. 

"  As  to  bail,  your  Worship  ?  "  Sir  Richard  said  suavely. 

Mr.  Ruggles  jumped  to  his  feet,  and  intervened  with 
vigor. 


246  THE    VOW 

"  The  charge  is  that  of  murder,  and  I  strenuously  op- 
pose bail.  The  prisoner  is  a  man  of  such  great  wealth 
that  no  amount  you  could  fix  would  deter  him  from  leav- 
ing the  country,  if  he  so  wished." 

"  I  am  sure  that  your  Worship  will  not  be  inclined  to 
take  away  Mr.  Gaunt's  liberty.  I  am  aware  that  bail  is 
very  rarely  granted  in  cases  of  murder,  but  this  accusa- 
tion is  so  frivolous  that  I  am  confident  that  you  will  see 
the  justice  of  my  application.  I  repeat  that  the  sole  mo- 
tive of  this  prosecution  is  to  silence  my  client,"  Sir  Rich- 
ard said  with  some  warmth. 

"  At  this  stage  I  will  express  no  opinion  upon  the  pro- 
ceedings, except  to  remark  that  the  alleged  crime  took 
place  many  years  ago.  Mr.  Gaunt  is  a  well-known  man 
and  it  is  natural  to  wonder  why  all  these  years  have  been 
allowed  to  pass  without  any  steps  having  been  taken.  I 
shall  grant  bail  —  the  prisoner  giving  security  in  one 
thousand  pounds  —  and  two  other  securities  of  a  like 
amount." 

"  I  am  obliged  to  your  Won/hip,"  Sir  Richard  said 
quietly. 

Gaunt  happened  to  turn  round,  and  his  eyes  alighted 
upon  the  Baron  de  Croiseuil,  who  was  talking  excitedly 
to  his  solicitor.  Mr.  Ruggles  once  more  jumped  to  his 
feet. 

"  Surely  your  Worship  will  hear  me  before  giving  such 
a  decision  ?  I  repeat  that  the  charge  against  the  pris- 
oner is  the  most  serious  known  to  the  law,  and  that  you 
will  be  forming  a  most  dangerous  precedent  if  you  grant 
bail.  I  cannot  impress  upon  your  lordship  too  strongly 
my  opinion  that  if  the  prisoner  is  allowed  to  go  free,  he 
will  never  dare  to  face  the  trial." 


THE    VOW  247 


"  I  have  given  my  decision  after  due  consideration. 
The  prisoner  will  be  admitted  to  bail  upon  the  terms  I 
have  stated,"  the  magistrate  answered  drily. 

Gaunt  was  led  from  the  court  while  the  formalities 
were  being  completed,  and  it  was  some  little  time  before 
the  papers  were  signed.  At  last  it  was  all  finished,  and 
he  left  the  police  station  to  find  Edward  Drake  awaiting 
him  with  the  motor-car. 

Newspaper  lads  were  running  along  the  street  shout- 
ing their  wares : 

"  Serious  charge  against  John  Gaunt.  Proceedings  at 
Bow  Street,"  and  a  grim  smile  came  to  the  millionaire's 
face. 

"  What  did  Lady  Mildred  say  to  you  ?  "  he  asked  of 
Drake  with  great  anxiety. 

"  Nothing.  She  merely  left.  Of  course  she  will  not 
credit  the  absurd  statement  made  by  Ruggles,  but  natu- 
rally she  was  upset." 

Gaunt  was  not  listening,  for  he  was  filled  with  a  great 
anxiety  and  when  the  car  reached  his  house  he  jumped 
down  and  hastened  into  the  hall. 

"  Where  is  your  mistress  ?  "  he  demanded  of  the  foot- 
man, and  his  voice  was  harsh. 

"  Her  ladyship  left  half  an  hour  ago,  sir." 

"Alone?" 

"  No,  sir.  Her  ladyship's  sister,  and  the  nurse  with 
the  baby  accompanied  her  ladyship,"  was  the  answer, 
and  Gaunt  moved  slowly  away. 


CHAPTER  XXXI 

WHEN  Lady  Mildred  realized  that  her  hus- 
band had  been  arrested  and  had  left  the 
house  in  charge  of  an  inspector  of  police,  she 
gave  way  completely  and  was  prostrated  with  grief. 
But  she  did  not  lack  courage  and  when  Edward  Drake 
came  to  see  her  she  forced  herself  to  greet  him  calmly. 

"  You  are  responsible  for  this,"  she  said  in  a  low 
voice. 

"  I  do  not  think  so,  but  I  will  not  attempt  to  defend 
myself.  Mr.  Gaunt  has  acted  the  part  of  a  brave  man 
and  I  honor  him,"  he  answered  steadily. 

"  You  honor  him  for  going  to  prison  ?  " 

"  Yes.  The  police  court  is  not  always  a  disgrace. 
Some  day  you  will  think  as  I  do.  Your  husband  is  inj 
nocent  of  the  crime  with  which  he  has  been  charged, 
and  his  accusers  know  him  to  be  innocent.  It  is  but  an 
attempt  to  silence  him,  and  the  attempt  will  fail,"  Drake 
said  with  quiet  conviction. 

Lord  Lynton  rushed  into  the  room  and  there  was  great 
excitement  on  his  face. 

"  I  have  just  been  telephoning  to  the  Baron.  He  tells 
me  that  it  is  not  too  late,  and  if  Gaunt  will  only  give  the 
promise,  he  will  see  that  these  proceedings  are  stopped. 
Mr.  Drake,  you  must  follow  him  to  the  police  station  and 
make  him  do  this." 

"  From  your  knowledge  of  Mr.  Gaunt's  character,  you 

248 


THE    VOW  249 

should  understand  that  such  a  visit  would  be  useless. 
He  has  made  up  his  mind  and  nothing  that  I  or  any  one 
else  can  say  will  change  his  purpose." 

Lady  Ethel  had  followed  closely  after  her  brother,  who 
had  explained  to  her  what  had  happened. 

"  Mr.  Drake,  will  you  come  with  me  ?  "  she  said  quietly, 
and  led  the  way  to  the  library.  "  I  ask  you  as  a  great 
favor  to  go  to  Mr.  Gaunt.  I  believe  you  underrate  your 
influence  with  him,  and  that  if  you  try  hard  he  will  con- 
sent to  give  the  Baron  this  promise." 

"  I  have  already  said  that  it  would  be  useless,"  he  an- 
swered gravely. 

"  Yes,  but  I  am  not  sure  that  you  believe  what  you 
said.  For  some  purpose  of  your  own  you  have  been 
driving  Mr.  Gaunt  on  to  this  mad  course.  You,  and  no 
one  else,  are  responsible  for  what  he  has  done.  If  you 
had  not  entered  into  his  life  he  would  never  have  given 
a  second  thought  to  the  wrongs  of  the  natives  of  the 
Congo." 

He  endeavored  to  interrupt  her  but  she  continued  with 
greater  earnestness. 

"  Have  you  not  seen  how  happy  they  have  been 
lately  ?  My  sister  loves  him,  and  I  thought  that  all  these 
difficulties  had  vanished.  Yesterday  Mildred  gloried  in 
her  husband's  love,  and  now  he  is  in  prison.  I  love  my 
sister  dearly,  and  I  cannot  see  her  life  ruined. 

"  I  believe  that  Mr.  Gaunt  is  innocent,"  she  continued 
gravely,  "  but  even  then,  this  charge  will  cause  a  great 
scandal.  Mildred  is  deeply  hurt  that  he  should  have  re- 
fused to  do  the  little  thing  she  asked,  for  it  would  seem 
as  though  he  placed  this  wretched  crusade  above  his 
wife's  love.  Won't  you  go  to  him  ?  " 


250 THE    VOW 

Her  eyes  were  fixed  steadily  upon  him  and  he  was 
deeply  moved. 

"  I  shall  be  very  grateful  to  you,  Mr.  Drake,"  she  said 
simply. 

"  I  hate  to  refuse  you,  but  I  cannot  do  it.  My  con- 
science tells  me  that  Mr.  Gaunt  is  doing  his  duty." 

"  And  that  is  your  last  word  ?  " 

"  It  must  be." 

"  I  am  greatly  disappointed,  not  only  for  my  sister's 
sake  but  for  my  own.  I  thought  that  you  were  my 
friend.  I  have  respected  you  as  much  as  any  man  I 
know,  and  now  I  can  only  think  that  you  are  acting  in 
this  strange  way  for  some  secret  motive,  of  which  you 
are  ashamed.  You  pretend  to  be  Mr.  Gaunt's  friend, 
while  all  the  time  you  are  proving  yourself  to  be  his  bit- 
terest enemy.  Under  the  circumstances,  I  would  suggest 
that  you  leave  this  house,"  she  wound  up  scornfully. 

Drake  was  distressed  and  knew  not  what  to  do.  He 
could  see  that  no  word  of  his  would  make  her  think  dif- 
ferently of  him,  and  yet  he  would  not  go. 

"  Mr.  Gaunt's  last  words  were  that  I  should  look  after 
Lady  Mildred,"  he  answered  gravely. 

"  Look  after  the  woman  whose  happiness  you  have 
helped  to  ruin  ?  "  she  cried  contemptuously,  and  before  he 
could  answer  she  had  hurried  away. 

And  during  the  whole  of  the  interview  he  had  been 
longing  to  tell  her  the  truth,  for  he  hated  to  see  scorn  in 
the  eyes  of  the  woman  he  loved.  She  believed  him  to 
be  acting  from  unworthy  motives,  and  he  could  not  de- 
fend himself. 

A  broad-minded  man,  he  had  mapped  out  a  course  of 
action  from  which  he  would  not  deviate  in  the  smallest  de- 


THE    VOW  251 


gree.  It  was  his  conviction  that  the  sufferings  of  the  na- 
tives of  the  Congo  could  be  made  to  cease  by  the  efforts  of 
Gaunt,  and  the  misery  of  millions  of  human  beings  he 
placed  far  above  every  other  consideration.  What  mat- 
tered his  own  happiness  —  what  mattered  the  hap- 
piness of  Gaunt  and  Lady  Mildred,  when  such  a  stake 
was  at  issue  ? 

Just  before  the  dinner  hour  his  brother  came  in,  tired 
out  with  a  long  day's  work.  He  was  succeeding  beyond 
his  most  sanguine  expectations  and  was  rapidly  getting 
together  the  body  of  men  which  Gaunt  required.  In  fact 
many  of  them  were  to  leave  for  Las  Palmas  by  the  next 
steamer,  there  to  await  instructions. 

Lindsay  Drake  was  thoroughly  upset  by  the  news  of 
Gaunt's  arrest,  but  his  brother  endeavored  to  cheer  him. 

"  I  believe  that  God  is  with  us,  and  that  He  will 
not  allow  anything  to  stop  us  from  this  good  work,"  he 
said  solemnly. 

They  dined  alone,  and  afterwards  continued  their  dis- 
cussion of  the  arrangements  which  were  already  far  ad- 
vanced, in  spite  of  the  very  few  days  which  had  elapsed 
since  work  had  been  commenced.  Edward  Drake  had 
approached  the  representatives  of  San  Salvador  and  had 
ascertained  that  there  had  been  great  difficulty  in  finding 
the  large  sum  of  money  which  must  be  paid  before  pos- 
session of  the  cruiser  would  be  granted.  Like  most 
South  Americans,  Senor  Alvarez  was  quite  open  to  a 
bribe  and  had  entertained  the  proposal  with  great  eagei . 
ness.  Now  there  remained  but  the  details  to  discuss  and 
Gaunt's  presence  was  necessary  before  the  matter  could 
be  finally  settled. 

It  was  Edward  Drake's  intention  to  go  to  the  police 


252  THE    VOW 


court  at  an  early  hour  in  the  morning,  but  when  he  was 
about  to  start  a  message  came  from  Lady  Mildred  that 
she  wished  to  see  him,  and  he  hastened  to  her  room. 

Her  face  was  pale  and  dark  rims  encircled  her  eyes, 
for  she  had  passed  a  sleepless  night,  but  when  she  had 
awakened  a  great  deal  of  the  bitter  feeling  against  her 
husband  had  passed  away. 

"  John  loves  me,  and  nothing  else  matters,"  she  told 
herself. 

When  Drake  entered  she  received  him  quietly,  and 
silenced  his  words  of  sympathy. 

"  I  would  rather  not  talk  of  it,"  she  said  wearily.  "  I 
have  sent  for  you  because  I  wish  you  to  take  me  to  the 
police  court.  My  brother  refuses  to  go." 

"  Do  you  think  it  wise  ?  "  he  asked  hurriedly. 

"  I  wish  the  world  to  see  that  I  believe  in  my  hus- 
band's innocence,  and  the  best  way  of  showing  it  is  by 
being  present." 

"  I,  too,  intend  to  go,"  Lady  Ethel  announced  from 
the  doorway,  but  she  took  no  notice  of  Edward  Drake, 
not  even  vouchsafing  him  a  glance. 

Drake  then  left  them  to  find  out  the  time  when  the 
case  would  be  heard,  and  they  reached  the  court  just  be- 
fore twelve  o'clock.  Curious  glances  were  thrown  at 
them  as  they  entered,  and  soon  it  became  known  that 
Gaunt's  wife  was  present.  Lady  Mildred's  face  was  de- 
void of  expression,  but  under  the  insistent  staring  she 
grew  nervous,  so  that  at  last  she  let  fall  a  thick  veil 
which  effectually  concealed  her  features.  However,  her 
purpose  had  been  accomplished,  for  it  would  be  reported 
in  the  papers  that  she  was  present. 

It  was  not  until  her  husband  stood  in  the  dock  that 


THE    VOW  253 


she  really  realized  that  he  was  a  prisoner,  and  she 
clutched  tightly  at  her  sister's  hand. 

If  they  should  find  him  guilty  ? 

The  mere  thought  caused  her  heart  to  throb  madly, 
and  when  she  caught  sight  of  the  Baron's  smiling  face, 
she  could  have  cried  out  in  her  agony.  But  soon  her 
attention  became  concentrated  upon  counsel's  speech, 
and  she  followed  his  words  with  an  eagerness  that  was 
painful. 

And  then  there  came  the  description  of  the  crime 
with  which  Gaunt  was  accused.  A  quiet  gasp  escaped 
her  as  she  understood  the  meaning  of  what  had  been 
said.  John  —  her  husband  —  had  robbed  a  white  man 
of  his  wife  —  a  native  woman  —  and  then  had  shot  the 
man  whom  he  had  robbed.  Her  husband  accused  of 
such  baseness  !  It  was  incredible !  But  was  it  possible 
that  these  people  could  bring  such  a  charge  unless  there 
were  some  foundation  for  it  ?  An  intense  jealousy  seized 
her  in  its  grip  and  she  rose  to  her  feet. 

"  Come,  Ethel,"  she  whispered  hoarsely. 

Drake,  too,  rose  to  accompany  them,  but  she  waved 
him  back. 

"  I  wish  to  go  alone  with  my  sister.  Stay  here,"  she 
'•  gasped,  and  he  obeyed  her. 

The  car  was  outside  and  Lady  Mildred  entered  and 
threw  herself  back  against  the  cushions. 

"Tell  him  —  to  drive  —  home  quickly,"  she  said  to 
her  sister,  and  the  words  were  uttered  with  great  dif- 
ficulty. 

The  car  started  off  and  Lady  Ethel  drew  down  the 
blinds,  for  her  sister  was  crying  piteously,  and  tears  were 
streaming  down  her  cheeks. 


254  THE    VOW 


«'  Perhaps  it  is  untrue,"  Lady  Ethel  whispered. 

"  But  the  disgrace  of  it.  I  hate  him.  I  will  never 
willingly  see  John  again,"  Lady  Mildred  cried  vehe- 
mently. 

When  she  reached  home  she  went  at  once  to  her 
room,  and  threw  herself  on  the  bed,  while  great  sobs 
shook  her.  Although  she  knew  it  not,  the  wound  was 
to  her  pride  —  that  the  man  she  loved,  the  man  whose 
wife  she  was,  should  have  his  name  coupled  with  a  native 
woman  ;  and  a  great  anger  against  him  mastered  her. 
Honestly  she  believed  that  an  end  had  come  to  her  love, 
and  now  she  almost  hoped  that  he  would  remain  in 
prison.  At  last  her  sobs  ceased  and  she  formed  a  deter- 
mination as  she  bathed  her  face.  Her  maid  was  sum- 
moned and  received  orders  to  pack  at  once  for  a  long 
visit. 

Lady  Ethel  came  in  and  gave  a  cry  of  surprise  when 
she  saw  the  preparations  that  were  being  made. 

"You  are  going  away?"  she  said  with  great  dis- 
tress. 

"  Yes.  Do  you  think  I  can  stay  under  the  same  roof 
as  my  husband  after  what  has  passed  ?  Is  it  necessary 
to  explain  ?  "  she  asked  wearily. 

"  No,  dear ;  but  won't  you  take  a  little  time  for  con- 
sideration ?  "  Lady  Ethel  said  anxiously. 

"  I  am  leaving  here  at  once.  Will  you  come  with 
me  ?  "  Lady  Mildred  cried  impetuously. 

"  Of  course  I  shall,  but  I  think  you  ought  to  give  your 
husband  a  chance  of  explaining." 

"  I  wish  never  to  see  him  again.     I  hate  him." 

Orders  had  already  been  given  that  the  large  car 
should  be  got  ready,  and  when  directions  had  been  given 


THE    VOW  255 


for  the  forwarding  of  their  luggage,  Lady  Mildred  led 
the  way  to  the  hall. 

"  Surely  you  will  write  to  John,"  Lady  Ethel  suggested 
diffidently. 

«  Yes  —  I  will."  And  Lady  Mildred  crossed  to  the 
table  on  which  there  was  a  box  of  stationery. 

"  To  my  dying  day  I  shall  regret  that  I  am  your 
wife"  she  wrote  and  sealed  the  envelope  and  handed  it 
to  a  footman. 

They  entered  the  car  and  the  nurse  sat  facing  them 
with  the  baby  in  her  arms,  but  the  little  one  resented  be- 
ing disturbed  in  his  morning's  sleep. 

"  Let  me  have  him,"  Lady  Ethel  said  quietly. 

But  her  sister  was  staring  through  the  window,  a 
great  misery  in  her  eyes,  but  wounded  pride  can  even 
drive  away  love. 


CHAPTER  XXXII 

JOHN  GAUNT  once  again  read  his  wife's  letter  with 
its  message:  "  To  my  dying  day  I  shall  regret 
that  I  am  your  wife"  and  the  words  burnt  them- 
selves into  his  brain.  Drake  was  standing  near  but 
spoke  no  word  for  he  could  read  tragedy  on  the  face 
of  his  friend,  and  realized  that  sympathy  would  be  of  no 
help. 

"  Now  I  am  with  you  heart  and  soul.  The  Baron  is 
responsible  for  this,  and  the  Baron  and  his  friends  shall 
pay  me.  Read  that,"  Gaunt  said  and  passed  the  letter 
to  Drake.  The  latter  took  it  hesitatingly,  and  glanced 
at  the  two  lines. 

"  You  must  not  attach  too  much  importance  to  this," 
he  said  earnestly.  "  Your  wife  was  upset  and  already 
she  will  have  regretted  such  a  message.  You  must  re- 
member that  Ruggles'  speech  must  have  sounded  hor- 
rible to  a  woman's  ear.  Your  wife  listened  to  an  accusa- 
tion that  you  had  robbed  a  man  of  his  native  mistress 
and  then  had  deliberately  shot  the  man  that  you  had 
robbed.  I  believe  it  is  not  the  truth  of  the  charge  that 
has  distressed  her  but  the  fact  that  such  a  charge  has  been 
made.  She  loves  you,  and  her  respect  for  you  will  have 
been  shattered,  her  pride  in  you  will  have  received  a 
grievous  wound,  and  her  instinct  was  to  strike  back. 
She  knew  that  the  easiest  way  of  making  you  suffer 
would  be  through  your  love  for  her  —  hence  this  letter." 

"  You  may  be  right,  but  I  do  not  care.  She  has 

256 


THE    VOW  257 


left  my  house,  taking  my  child  with  her,  and  I  swear 
that  I  will  never  try  to  bring  her  back,"  Gaunt  cried 
recklessly. 

"  You,  too,  are  upset,  or  you  -would  not  say  those 
words.  It  was  in  the  same  mood  that  your  wife  wrote 
to  you.  I  have  no  doubt  that  she  will  be  back  to- 
night. You  may  be  sure  that  she  will  read  Sir  Rich- 
ard's speech,  and  will  feel  ashamed  of  having  acted  so 
hastily." 

There  was  misery  in  Gaunt's  eyes,  but  with  a  su- 
preme effort  he  pulled  himself  together,  and  going 
over  to  the  writing-table  produced  a  bundle  of  papers 
from  a  drawer. 

"  Drake,  I  shall  be  glad  if  you  will  not  again  refer  to 
Lady  Mildred.  You  will  doubtless  be  glad  that  hence- 
forth I  shall  be  able  to  concentrate  my  energies  on  our 
scheme.  We  have  so  far  been  particularly  fortunate, 
and  unless  something  unforeseen  happens,  the  expedition 
ought  to  start  within  a  fortnight.  By  the  bye,  what 
about  Alvarez  ?  " 

"  He  is  waiting  to  hear  from  me.  If  you  wish,  I 
could  arrange  an  appointment  for  to-night.  He  appears 
very  anxious  to  come  to  an  arrangement,  for  San  Salva- 
dor badly  needs  the  money." 

"  Fix  up  the  appointment ;  the  sooner  it  is  settled  the 
better." 

"  My  brother  has  asked  Captain  Armstrong  to  dinner. 
The  invitation  was  given  before  he  knew  of  your  arrest. 
I  presume  you  would  like  him  to  come  ?  " 

"  Who  is  Captain  Armstrong  ?  " 

"  I  think  he  is  the  very  man  we  want.  Until  a  year 
ago  he  was  a  commander  in  the  navy,  but  he  had  to 


258  THE    VOW 


leave  the  service  owing  to  a  serious  injury  to  his  knee. 
He  was  a  very  capable  officer,  and  would  be  an  ideal 
commander  of  our  war-ship.  Of  course,  he  has  been  told 
nothing  of  the  nature  of  the  expedition,  but  I  should 
imagine  that  it  is  just  the  thing  that  would  appeal  to 
him.  At  one  time  he  was  in  command  of  the  Thistle,  a 
gunboat  on  the  west  coast  of  Africa,  and  he  knows 
every  inch  of  the  coast.  It  was  there  that  my  brother 
first  met  him." 

"  Good ;  I  shall  be  glad  to  meet  the  captain.  Fix  up 
the  appointment  with  Alvarez  for  ten  o'clock.  By  that 
time,  we  may  have  come  to  an  arrangement  with  Arm- 
strong, and  he  will  be  useful  at  the  interview." 

"  I  will  go  and  telephone,"  Drake  answered,  but  he  did 
not  move  at  once,  and  Gaunt  was  conscious  that  he  was 
being  regarded  with  deep  sympathy. 

"  Well  ?     What  is  it  ?  "  the  latter  cried  irritably. 

"  I  should  like  to  say  how  sorry  I  am  that  this  has 
happened.  It  was  diabolical  of  the  Baron  to  have 
caused  such  a  lying  story  to  be  told  in  court." 

"  The  Baron  will  be  repaid.  His  pocket  shall  suffer, 
and  he  will  feel  that  more  than  any  other  punishment." 

Alone,  Gaunt  stared  moodily  before  him,  and  sat 
motionless  for  a  long  time.  His  pride  was  hurt  that  his 
wife  should  write  him  such  a  letter,  and  in  his  anger  he 
could  not  make  allowances  for  her.  And  yet  it  was  but 
a  few  hours  ago  that  they  had  been  supremely  happy, 
and  it  was  difficult  to  realize  that  she  had  left  him.  But 
there  was  much  to  be  done,  and  in  work  he  would  seek 
forgetfulness. 

For  a  long  time  he  struggled  with  himself,  and  when 
at  last  he  went  up-stairs  to  dress  for  dinner,  all  traces  of 


THE    VOW 259 

distress  had  left  his  face.  His  manner  was  calm  and  col- 
lected as  he  greeted  Captain  Armstrong,  and  the  two 
men  were  attracted  by  one  another  at  the  outset.  In  ap- 
pearance the  latter  was  the  typical  naval  officer,  a  man 
of  few  words,  but  thoroughly  efficient. 

It  was  not  until  they  were  smoking  their  cigars  in  the 
library  that  Gaunt  broached  the  subject. 

41  I  want  you  to  treat  my  proposal  as  a  confidence,"  he 
began. 

44  Certainly,  sir,"  was  the  prompt  answer. 

And  Gaunt  proceeded  to  outline  the  scheme,  to  which 
Captain  Armstrong  listened  with  close  attention,  and  it 
was  noticeable  that  he  asked  no  questions  until  the  mil- 
lionaire lapsed  into  silence. 

"  I  do  not  propose  to  understand  your  motive,  but  I  as- 
sume that  it  is  a  philanthropic  one,"  Armstrong  said  quietly. 

"  You  are  right  in  your  assumption,"  Drake  broke  in 
quickly. 

44  Philanthropy  coupled  with  a  desire  for  revenge," 
Gaunt  added  drily. 

44 1  can  better  understand  the  latter.  Of  course,  your 
plan  is  a  dangerous  one." 

44  Is  it  feasible?  That  is  more  to  the  point,"  Gaunt 
interrupted. 

44 1  can  see  no  reason  why  it  shouldn't  succeed.  As  a 
matter  of  fact  I  was  up  on  the  Tyne  a  few  weeks  ago  and 
saw  the  San  Salvador  cruiser.  She  is  capable  of  doing 
all  the  work  you  would  require,  for  the  Congo  defenses 
are  not  very  strong."  The  captain  paused  a  moment  and 
then  continued  gravely:  44  Yes,  I  am  of  opinion  that  we 
could  safely  '  hold  up '  the  Congo ;  that  is,  until  some 
European  power  sent  war-ships  to  crush  us." 


260 THE    VOW 

"  You  use  the  word  '  we/ "  Gaunt  remarked  signifi- 
cantly. 

"  Intentionally,  sir,  for  I  should  like  to  join  you.  The 
Admiralty  has  no  further  need  of  my  services,  and  thinks 
that  my  groggy  knee  makes  me  useless.  As  a  matter  of 
fact  I  believe  that  I  am  as  capable  of  good  work  in  the 
navy  as  ever  I  was.  The  last  twelve  months  have  been 
a  terrible  nightmare  to  me.  I  have  found  myself  wan- 
dering from  Devonport  to  Portsmouth,  from  Portsmouth 
to  Chatham,  and  I  have  been  utterly  miserable.  The 
service  was  life  to  me,  and  I  am  only  too  glad  to  get 
back  to  harness,  even  if  it  is  to  engage  in  what  prac- 
tically amounts  to  a  piratical  expedition.  We  certainly 
ought  to  see  some  fun,"  the  captain  wound  up,  and  there 
was  a  merry  twinkle  in  his  eye. 

"  We  shall  be  all  right  for  men  below  deck,  engineers 
and  mechanics,  but  we  are  rather  short  of  trained  gun- 
ners," Lindsay  Drake  said,  speaking  for  the  first  time. 

"  I  dare  say  I  can  put  my  hand  on  a  few  men.  Please 
tell  me  exactly  how  far  you  have  gone,  and  then  we  can 
make  our  arrangements,"  Armstrong  said  cheerfully. 

"  Shall  we  first  settle  your  position,  captain  ?  You  will 
be  in  command  of  the  cruiser  to  all  intents  and  purposes, 
but  of  course,  my  say  in  the  policy  will  be  the  final  one," 
Gaunt  said  quietly. 

"  That  is  only  reasonable.  You  will  find  me  a  loyal 
pirate." 

Edward  Drake  rose  to  his  feet,  and  his  face  was  deeply 
flushed. 

"  Mr.  Gaunt  said  that  revenge  was  part  of  his  motive, 
but  I  must  tell  you  that  the  idea  originated  with  one 
motive,  and  only  one ;  namely,  to  free  a  nation  that  is 


THE    VOW 261 

being  cruelly  tortured,  and  done  to  death.  I  hope  that  I 
am  a  Christian  and  my  conscience  tells  me  that  I  am 
doing  right  in  joining  this  expedition.  Every  other 
means  has  failed,  and  it  is  only  as  a  last  resource  that 
we  are  about  to  use  force,"  he  said  earnestly. 

"  I  appreciate  and  respect  your  motive,  Mr.  Drake. 
More  than  that,  I  understand  it.  But  I  will  be  equally 
frank.  I  have  agreed  to  join  you  for  the  fun  and  sport 
of  the  thing.  You  must  take  me  on  those  terms,  or  not 
at  all,"  Armstrong  answered  with  an  engaging  smile. 

"  Drake,  we  won't  discuss-  the  expedition  from  an  eth- 
ical point  of  view.  Captain,  I  am  glad  to  have  met  you, 
for  I  think  that  you  are  the  man  we  want.  There  is 
only  one  other  matter  to  settle  —  the  question  of  salary," 
Gaunt  said  with  a  smile. 

"  That  is  soon  settled.  I  am  not  a  poor  man,  and  as  I 
said  before,  I  come  for  the  fun  of  the  thing  or  not  at  all ; 
but  stay,  I  don't  mind  a  thousand  of  these  excellent 
cigars,"  Armstrong  answered,  as  he  inhaled  a  deep 
breath. 

And  then  they  began  to  discuss  details  with  animation 
and  it  was  arranged  that  Captain  Armstrong  should  take 
complete  charge  of  all  that  concerned  the  cruiser. 
While  they  were  in  the  middle  of  the  discussion  Senor 
Alvarez  was  announced,  and  was  at  once  brought  to  the 
library.  The  South  American's  manner  was  of  a  suavity 
that  was  oppressive,  but  he  evidently  had  a  keen  eye  to 
business. 

"  The  position  is  this,"  Gaunt  said  bluntly.  "  You 
haven't  enough  money  to  complete  the  purchase  of  the 
cruiser.  As  a  matter  of  fact,  I  know  that  you  won't  re- 
quire the  war-ship  for  at  least  six  months,  for  you  won't 


202  THE    VOW 


be  ready  till  then  to  deal  with  your  troublesome  neigh- 
bor. I  am  willing  to  pay  the  balance  of  a  hundred 
thousand  pounds  to  the  builders  and  you  can  formally 
take  over  the  cruiser.  You  will  have  as  crew  our  men, 
and  Captain  Armstrong  will  meet  you  at  an  agreed 
place.  In  consideration  of  my  having  made  the  pay- 
ment, you  will  lease  the  cruiser  to  us  for  six  months." 

"  I  do  not  know  the  purpose  for  which  you  require  the 
ship,"  Alvarez  said,  "  and  how  shall  we  stand  if  you  fail 
to  deliver  her  to  me  at  the  end  of  six  months  ?  " 

"  I  am  willing  to  enter  into  a  bond  to  pay  for  the  full 
value  of  the  ship  should  I  fail  to  deliver  her,"  Gaunt  re- 
plied. 

"  And  you  will  not  tell  me  to  what  use  the  cruiser  will 
be  put  ?  " 

"  It  isn't  necessary  for  you  to  know,  senor,  but  I  may 
say  that  I  am  willing  to  give  you  a  check  for  twenty 
thousand  pounds  of  which  you  may  make  any  use  you 
wish,"  Gaunt  said  significantly. 

This  bribe  closed  the  matter,  and  it  was  arranged  that 
the  check  should  be  dated  a  month  hence. 

"  I  take  that  precaution,  senor,  and  I  tell  you  plainly 
that  if  you  talk  to  any  one  of  our  little  arrangement,  the 
check  will  be  stopped.  I  require  secrecy,"  Gaunt  said 
bluntly. 

"  Which  I  will  gladly  give  —  at  such  a  price,"  Alvarez 
added  under  his  breath. 

After  the  South  American  had  left,  the  discussion  was 
resumed,  and  it  was  late  when  the  party  broke  up. 

"You  think  that  we  can  be  ready  in  a  fortnight ?" 
Gaunt  asked  of  Armstrong. 

"  Yes.     I   shall  go  to  Newcastle  in  the  morning.     I 


THE    VOW  263 

shall  let  it  be  understood  that  I  have  entered  the  service 
of  San  Salvador,  and  Alvarez  must  back  me  up.  If  he 
does  so,  I  can  go  on  working  without  arousing  any  sus- 
picion," the  latter  answered. 

"  That  is  an  excellent  idea.  You  must  not  come  to 
my  house  again.  Captain  Drake  had  better  take  up  his 
quarters  at  an  hotel,  and  you  can  communicate  with  him. 
I  shall  not  be  surprised  if  the  Baron  keeps  a  pretty  close 
watch  on  my  movements,"  the  millionaire  remarked. 

When  Drake  and  Gaunt  were  alone,  neither  of  them 
showed  any  inclination  for  bed.  The  former  was  silent 
for  a  while,  for  he  was  trying  to  devise  a  means  of  recon- 
ciling Lady  Mildred  to  her  husband,  while  Gaunt  was 
thinking  of  his  wife. 

"  I  am  sure  that  Lady  Ethel  will  be  your  friend.  She 
will  do  all  that  she  can  to  bring  her  sister  back,"  Drake 
said  suddenly. 

"  You  believe  that?"  Gaunt  answered  incredulously. 

"  Yes,  for  she  will  know  that  Lady  Mildred's  happiness 
will  lie  in  you.  I  sometimes  think  that  you  do  not  do 
justice  to  your  sister-in-law.  She  is  not  the  frivolous 
woman  you  imagine  her  to  be." 

"  I  fear  that  you  are  prejudiced  in  her  favor." 

"  Good- night,"  said  Drake  hurriedly. 

Gaunt  held  out  his  hand  and  a  smile  flitted  across  his 
face. 

"  My  friend,  I  am  not  blind,  and  I  wish  you  more  luck 
than  I  have  had,"  he  said  quietly. 


CHAPTER  XXXIII 

LADY  MILDRED'S  destination  was  the  family 
dower  house,  the  use  of  which  her  brother  had 
given  her  as  a  country  retreat.  It  was  several 
hours'  drive  from  London,  and  they  were  all  tired  out  by 
the  time  that  they  arrived.  During  the  journey  the 
sisters  spoke  very  seldom,  and  it  was  not  until  they  had 
dined  that  any  serious  conversation  took  place.  Then  it 
was  Lady  Ethel  who  broached  the  subject. 

"  I  suppose  you  will  write  to  John  to-night  and  tell 
him  where  you  are  ?  "  she  began  nervously. 

"  No,"  was  the  uncompromising  answer. 

"  I  won't  presume  to  advise  you,  Mildred,  but  he  will 
be  very  anxious,  and  after  all  you  are  judging  him  with- 
out hearing  his  side,"  Lady  Ethel  answered  with  quiet 
persistence. 

"  I  refuse  to  discuss  it  with  you.  Now  I  am  going  to 
bed,  for  I  am  tired,"  Lady  Mildred  said  coldly  and 
immediately  she  left  the  room. 

But  alone,  her  composure  vanished,  and  she  threw 
herself  on  to  the  bed,  sobbing  bitterly,  and  it  was  many 
hours  before  she  fell  asleep,  worn  out  in  mind  and  body. 
When  morning  came  she  was  once  more  calm,  and  her 
manner  was  cold  and  forbidding  when  she  met  her  sister. 

"  I  absolutely  refuse  to  discuss  my  husband  with  you," 
she  said  to  her,  "  and  if  you  persist  in  doing  so,  you  must 
leave  here." 

"  It  is  for  your  own  good,  Mildred,  for  I  hate  to  see 

264. 


THE    VOW  265 


you  spoiling  your  life.  Read  this  morning's  paper  and 
you  will  see  that  John's  counsel  denied  that  John  took 
away  the  native  woman  from  the  man  he  shot  except  to 
save  her  torture.  You  will  say  that  John  was  quite  right 
in  shooting  the  brute  who  could  torture  a  woman  in  the 
way  Marillier  did.  Don't  you  see  that  this  charge  is 
only  trumped  up  by  the  Baron  to  force  John  to  silence  ? 
If  I  were  in  your  place,  I  would  be  by  my  husband's  side, 
and  help  him  to  defeat  his  enemy,"  Lady  Ethel  cried 
vehemently. 

Lady  Mildred  had  seized  the  newspaper  and  was 
eagerly  reading  the  full  account  given  of  the  proceedings 
at  Bow  Street. 

A  perusal  of  Sir  Richard's  speech  made  her  doubt  for 
the  first  time  that  she  had  acted  wisely  in  leaving  her 
husband.  But  pride  quickly  banished  the  doubt,  for  she 
could  imagine  her  friends  commenting  on  the  charge. 

"  It  is  an  easy  matter  to  deny  its  truth,  for  John  could 
do  nothing  else,"  she  told  herself. 

It  was  not  merely  this  accusation  that  distressed  her 
for  there  was  also  the  fact  that  all  this  scandal  might  have 
been  avoided  by  his  giving  a  simple  promise  to  the  Baron. 
And  he  had  refused  to  do  this,  even  when  she  had 
appealed  to  him  so  passionately. 

The  days  passed  slowly,  and  as  each  morning  came, 
Lady  Ethel  hoped  that  her  sister  would  have  relented, 
but  there  was  no  sign  of  any  change ;  so,  when  a  week 
had  gone,  she  rose  early  and  drove  straight  to  London, 
without  leaving  word  where  she  had  gone.  It  was  twelve 
o'clock  when  she  reached  Park  Lane,  only  to  find  that 
there  was  no  one  in  the  house  except  the  servants. 
However,  she  decided  to  wait  Gaunt's  return,  and  she 


266  THE    VOW 

went  to  her  room  to  prepare  for  lunch.  As  she  passed 
her  brother-in-law's  room  she  chanced  to  glance  through 
the  open  door,  and  to  her  surprise  noticed  many  trunks 
lying  around,  all  of  which  were  strapped. 

"  Can  he  be  going  away  ?  "  she  asked  herself. 

There  was  too  much  luggage  for  a  short  visit,  so  it  was 
evident  that  a  long  journey  was  contemplated,  and  she 
determined  not  to  leave  London  until  she  had  found  out 
where  John  was  going.  When  she  went  down-stairs 
again  she  heard  the  sound  of  voices  in  the  library  and  so 
entered. 

Gaunt  and  Edward  Drake  were  talking  earnestly  to- 
gether, and  they  stopped  when  they  saw  her. 

"  Good-morning,"  she  said  brightly. 

"  Good-morning,"  Drake  replied  curtly. 

"  John,  I  have  just  left  Mildred.  I  want  you  to  come 
back  with  me  to  see  her,"  she  said  earnestly. 

"  Did  she  send  you  to  me  ?  Have  you  any  message  ?  " 
he  asked  eagerly. 

"  No.  Mildred  has  not  been  very  well,  and  I  am  sure 
if  you  saw  her,  everything  would  come  right.  I  have 
seen  that  your  trunks  are  packed,  and  I  fear  that  you  are 
going  to  do  something  stupid." 

"  My  wife  will  have  to  come  to  me,  after  what  has 
happened,"  Gaunt  answered  sternly. 

"  John,  don't  let  any  silly  pride  ruin  your  happiness. 
After  all,  Mildred  has  some  cause  for  complaint." 

"  I  refuse  to  discuss  it,"  he  answered  with  a  harsh 
laugh,  and  strode  from  the  room. 

"  Mr.  Drake,  won't  you  help  me  ?  "  she  said  and  her 
hands  were  outstretched  towards  him  in  appeal. 

In  a  moment  he  had  clasped  them,  and  their  eyes  met 


THE    VOW  267 

—  his  filled  with  love  as  he  struggled  to  keep  back  the 
passionate  words  that  came  near  his  lips. 

"  I  can  do  nothing.  Mr.  Gaunt  will  not  be  influenced, 
for  he  is  deeply  hurt,  and  rightly  so,  I  think.  Go  back 
to  your  sister  and  persuade  her  to  come  here  at  once. 
In  a  few  days  it  will  be  too  late  for " 

He  stopped  and  she  looked  at  him  anxiously. 

"  Is  John  going  away  ?  Will  it  be  for  a  long  time  ?  " 
she  asked  quickly. 

"  I  can  tell  you  nothing,  for  it  is  not  my  secret." 

"  But  this  wretched  police  .court  case.  I  had  forgotten 
that  it  was  to-day.  What  has  happened  ?  " 

"  Nothing.  A  little  evidence  which  was  worthless  was 
given,  and  the  case  was  adjourned  until  next  Thursday. 
But  you  may  assure  your  sister  that  there  is  no  danger 
to  Mr.  Gaunt.  The  worst  he  did  was  to  shoot  Marillier, 
but  it  was  in  self-defense,  and  he  was  justified." 

"  I  agree  with  you.  The  man  deserved  death,"  she 
answered  vehemently. 

Drake  suddenly  realized  that  he  was  still  holding  her 
hands  —  and  a  vivid  flush  came  to  his  cheeks. 

"  Ethel,  I  love  you,"  he  whispered  passionately,  for  the 
temptation  was  too  great  for  his  strength,  and  for  the 
moment  he  had  forgotten  that  this  was  the  woman  whom 
his  brother  loved. 

She  disengaged  herself  gently,  and  her  eyes  met  his 
steadily.  But  before  she  could  speak  the  door  was 
thrown  open  and  Gaunt  came  in. 

Lady  Ethel  gave  a  quick  sigh  of  relief,  but  her  face 
was  flushed  and  she  deliberately  turned  away  from  Ed- 
ward Drake. 

•'Are  you  ready?"  Gaunt  asked  of  the  latter. 


268  THE    VOW 

«  Yes." 

"  Come  along  then." 

Drake  still  hesitated,  but  receiving  no  encouragement 
from  Lady  Ethel,  he  moved  slowly  away.  She  hastened 
after  them,  however,  and  addressed  her  brother-in-law. 

"  John,  I  am  going  back  to  Mildred.  Won't  you  send 
her  some  message  ?  " 

"  I  have  already  answered  you." 

"  You  are  very  cruel.  You  ought  to  make  allowances 
for  her,"  she  cried  passionately. 

"  Good-bye,"  he  called  to  her,  and  slipping  his  arm 
through  Drake's  hastened  away. 

Lady  Ethel  realized  that  it  was  no  use  to  stay  longer, 
so  made  preparations  for  her  return,  and  was  about  to 
enter  the  car  that  was  in  waiting  at  the  door  when  she 
heard  her  name  called;  and  turning,  she  saw  Lindsay 
Drake  approaching  her,  an  eager  smile  on  his  face. 

"  I  am  so  glad  to  see  you.  I  thought  I  should  not 
have  an  opportunity  of  wishing  you  good-bye." 

"  You  are  going  away  ?  "  she  said  quickly,  and  then 
gave  him  a  curious  look.  "  Come  with  me  a  little  way. 
Mr.  Gaunt  and  your  brother  have  just  gone  out,"  she 
added. 

"  I  ought  to  see  them  at  once,"  he  answered  doubt- 
fully. 

"  Surely  you  can  spare  half  an  hour  ?  " 

Her  manner  was  so  gracious  that  he  could  not  with- 
stand the  temptation. 

"  I  must  not  be  late,"  he  remarked,  and  jumped  up  be- 
side her  and  the  car  started  off  immediately. 

"  Are  you  going  abroad  ?  "  she  asked  casually. 

«  To  West  Africa." 


THE    VOW  269 

"Surely  your  leave  is  not  up?  You  have  only  just 
come  home.  May  I  ask  if  you  are  going  alone  ?  " 

"  I  would  much  rather  not  talk  about  myself,"  he  an- 
swered hurriedly. 

"  Then  let  us  talk  of  Mr.  Gaunt.  Is  he  accompanying 
you  to  West  Africa?" 

Captain  Drake  did  not  answer  and  she  grew  more  in- 
sistent. 

"  And  is  your  destination  the  Congo  ?  "  she  persisted. 

Perhaps  it  was  intuition  coupled  with  her  woman's  wit 
that  made  her  ask  the  question.  There  was  the  fact  that 
Gaunt  was  evidently  making  preparations  for  a  long  ab- 
sence; and  she  remembered  the  determined  way  in 
which  he  was  fighting  for  the  cause  of  the  Congo  natives. 
Now  there  was  Captain  Drake's  hurried  departure  and  when 
she  saw  his  hesitation  her  conjecture  seemed  to  be  verified. 

"  So  Mr.  Gaunt  is  going  with  you  to  the  Congo?"  she 
insisted. 

"  I  wish  you  would  not  ask  me  these  questions,  Lady 
Ethel.  I  hate  to  refuse  you  but  already  I  have  been  in- 
discreet. I  would  willingly  tell  you  everything  but  in 
honor  I  am  bound  to  silence,"  he  said  earnestly. 

"  You  have  answered  me,  and  I  wish  to  know  what  it 
means.  You  must  be  aware  that  my  sister  and  Mr. 
Gaunt  have  quarreled,  and  if  he  goes  away  for  a  long 
time,  their  estrangement  may  be  forever.  It  is  this  mys- 
tery which  is  the  cause  of  everything.  Tell  me  the  rea- 
son that  compelled  Mr.  Gaunt  to  force  this  scandal  upon 
us.  He  did  force  it,  for  at  a  word  from  him  the  whole 
thing  would  have  subsided.  If  only  my  sister  knew  his 
motive,  I  believe  that  she  would  go  to  him  and  ask  for 
forgiveness." 


270  THE    VOW 

Captain  Drake  was  moved,  for  he  could  see  that  she 
was  greatly  disturbed,  and  for  the  moment  he  was 
tempted  to  tell  her  everything.  But  the  temptation  was 
thrust  aside,  and  his  face  became  stern. 

"  I  can  only  say  that  his  motive  does  him  honor,"  he 
said  steadily. 

Suddenly  he  gave  a  cry  for  he  chanced  to  look 
through  the  window  and  saw  that  they  had  reached  the 
country.  He  had  been  so  deeply  interested  in  his 
companion  that  all  knowledge  of  time  and  place  had  left 
him,  but  now  he  realized  that  he  would  be  late  for  his 
appointment. 

"  Where  are  we  ?  "  he  asked  anxiously. 

"  I  really  do  not  know,"  she  answered  with  indiffer- 
ence. 

"  I  must  get  back  to  London  at  once.  Please  order 
the  chauffeur  to  return." 

"  You  will  not  do  what  I  ask ;  then  why  should  I  help 
you  ?  "  she  said  with  a  touch  of  malice. 

In  an  instant  he  had  moved  the  indicator,  the  car 
came  to  a  standstill,  and  he  jumped  to  the  ground. 

"  How  far  are  we  from  a  railway  station  ? "  Drake 
demanded  curtly  from  the  chauffeur. 

"  Two  or  three  miles,  sir,"  the  chauffeur  replied. 

"  Mr.  Drake,  come  back  into  the  car,"  Lady  Ethel 
said  in  a  low  voice ;  and  when  she  saw  that  he  hesitated, 
added  to  the  chauffeur :  "  Drive  back  towards  London, 
but  stop  when  we  meet  a  taxi-cab." 

"  Thank  you,"  Drake  said  gratefully,  and  once  more 
sat  down  beside  her. 

For  a  time  neither  of  them  spoke  but  he  was  con- 
scious that  every  now  and  then  she  threw  him  a  quick 


THE    VOW  271 

glance  from  beneath  her  lashes.  His  eyes  were  turned 
steadily  towards  the  passing  scenery,  for  he  dared  not 
look  at  her. 

"  Captain  Drake,  I  am  sorry.  It  was  a  mean  trick," 
she  began  nervously. 

In  an  instant  his  hand  had  covered  hers,  pressing  it 
convulsively. 

"Lady  Ethel,  I  shall  not  see  you  again  for  a  long 
time,  and  this  is  my  good-bye.  I  want  you  to  know 
that  I  love  you.  Don't  answer  me,  for  I  know  that  I 

have  nothing  to  offer.  I  .am  a  poor  soldier,  and " 

he  broke  off,  for  his  voice  shook.  "  But  I  couldn't  go 
away  without  letting  you  know  of  my  love." 

Her  face  had  grown  white  and  she  did  not  answer,  but 
he  did  not  see  that  her  eyes  were  dim,  and  her  face  sad. 

Suddenly  the  brakes  were  put  on,  the  car  slowed 
down,  and  the  chauffeur  signaled  to  an  approaching 
taxi-cab  driver. 

"  Good-bye  —  won't  you  wish  me  good  luck  ?  "  Drake 
said  hoarsely. 

"  Good-bye,  and  I  hope  that  you  will  all  come  back 
safely.  I  am  sorry,  very  sorry.  Please  tell  your  brother 
that  —  but  no,  I  won't  send  my  message.  Good-bye." 

And  she  watched  him  drive  away. 

"  Where  to,  my  lady  ?  "  the  chauffeur  asked  respect- 
fully. 

"  Home." 

"  Park  Lane,  my  lady  ?  " 

"  No.     To  Lynton  House,"  she  answered. 

The  car  started  and  Lady  Ethel  drew  down  the  blinds 
for  she  was  crying  quietly. 


CHAPTER  XXXIV 

WHEN    Baron   de  Croiseuil  heard  the  magis- 
trate's decision  that  bail  should  be  granted  to 
Gaunt,  his  indignation  was  intense,  for  both 
his  solicitor  and  Mr.   Ruggles,  K.  C,  had  advised  him 
that  such  an  eventuality  need  not  be  considered.     Im- 
mediately the  case  was  over,  he  hastened  back  to  his 
hotel  where  he  was  soon  joined  by  Sherren,  who  had 
been  in  attendance  at  the  court. 

"  English  magistrates  are  fools,"  the  Baron  cried 
angrily  by  way  of  greeting,  and  Sherren  did  not  dissent 
from  this  stricture  on  the  bench. 

"  What  isjyour  next  move  ?  "  the  latter  asked. 

"  I  haven't  yet  considered  it,  for  I  had  counted  upon 
Gaunt  being  put  safely  out  of  the  way  for  a  time. 
What  about  the  Amanti  case  ?  " 

"  Weiss  is  in  a  furious  rage  that  his  name  had  been 
mentioned,  and  when  I  saw  him  last  night,  he  made  all 
sorts  of  threats." 

"  Never  mind  Weiss.  He  doesn't  count.  Do  you 
think  your  friend  of  the  Amanti  Company  would  bring 
Gaunt  into  the  case  ?  I  understand  that  counsel  is  of 
opinion  that  he  could  be  got  at  on  a  charge  of  con- 
spiracy ?  " 

"  That  is  true,  Baron,  but  that  would  necessitate 
Weiss  also  being  charged." 

"  I  said  that  Weiss  didn't  count,  and  if  necessary  he'll 
have  to  suffer  with  the  others,"  De  Croiseuil  said  im- 
patiently. 

272 


THE    VOW 273 

"  Wouldn't  it  be  better  to  wait  till  the  adjourned  hear- 
ing of  Gaunt's  case  ?  If  you  can  only  manage  to  get 
some  strong  evidence  from  Brussels,  the  magistrate 
would  refuse  to  grant  bail." 

"  That  is  impossible,  for  there's  no  evidence  to  be 
got." 

"  It  wouldn't  be  the  first  time  that  evidence  had  been 
manufactured,"  Sherren  suggested. 

"  True,  but  I  don't  like  your  English  courts  of  justice. 
Now,  if  the  trial  were  only  taking  place  in  the 
Congo " 

He  shrugged  his  shoulders  expressively,  and  lapsed 
into  silence. 

"  I  think  we  had  better  wait  developments,"  he  said  at 
last.  "  You  can  go,  Sherren,  for  you  will  have  plenty  of 
work  to  do.  See  that  the  case  is  reported  as  fully  as 
possible  from  our  point  of  view,"  he  added  significantly. 

"  I  shall  have  some  difficulty  in  working  the  papers. 
Sir  Richard  Tester  is  a  man  who  carries  a  good  deal  of 
weight,  and  he  did  not  mince  matters  to-day.  It  is 
probable  that  the  more  influential  journals  will  regard 
the  case  as  an  attempt  to  close  Gaunt's  mouth,  and  as  I 
have  already  told  you,  our  press  is  not  easily  handled. 
Besides,  newspapers  may  not  comment  upon  a  case 
which  is  subjudice" 

"  You  think  that  the  bringing  of  the  case  was  a  mis- 
take ?  " 

"  Yes,  inasmuch  as  bail  was  granted.  Gaunt's  meet- 
ings will  be  packed  and  now  the  British  public  will  look 
upon  him  as  something  of  a  martyr." 

"  You  must  persuade  your  Amanti  friends  to  pros- 
ecute him.  They  can't  say  that  I  have  a  hand  in 


274  THE    VOW 

that  and  the  two  cases  together  may  make  some  im- 
pression." 

"  It  might  be  done,  but  Gaunt  is  a  powerful  man,  and 
my  friend  might  not  like  the  task  of  fighting  him,"  Sher- 
ren  said  slowly. 

"  What  kind  of  a  man  is  he  —  as  unscrupulous  as 
yourself?" 

"  Pardon  me,  Baron,  but  there  is  no  need  to  insult 
me." 

"  Can  you  bribe  him  ?  "  the  Baron  asked  impatiently. 

"  He  might  be  prepared  to  accept  a  pecuniary  induce- 
ment," Sherren  answered  cautiously. 

"  Sound  him,  and  let  me  know  the  result.  Now  you 
can  go." 

It  was  but  seldom  that  the  Baron's  manner  lost  the 
suavity  but  he  was  upset  for  he  realized  that  he  had  been 
guilty  of  an  unforgivable  sin  —  an  error  in  tactics.  How- 
ever, the  events  of  the  next  few  days  reassured  him 
somewhat,  for  Gaunt  made  no  sign.  In  fact  several 
meetings  on  the  Congo  question  had  been  canceled  and 
he  began  to  grow  rather  uneasy. 

"  Have  I  frightened  him  ?  "  he  asked  himself. 

But  instinct  told  him  that  Gaunt  was  not  the  man  to 
be  beaten  so  easily  and  he  wondered  what  was  to  be  the 
next  move.  He  had  seen  Lady  Mildred  leave  the  court 
during  the  trial,  and  had  ascertained  that  she  had  gone  to 
Lynton  House.  Therefore  it  was  natural  to  suppose  that 
husband  and  wife  had  quarreled,  and  he  realized  that 
Gaunt  must  be  greatly  embittered  by  the  false  story  that 
he  had  put  forward.  To  add  to  the  Baron's  discomfort, 
the  authorities  in  Belgium  were  very  displeased  with  what 
had  happened,  and  their  letters  had  expressed  their  opin- 


THE    VOW  275 

ions  very  forcibly.  The  Baron,  for  the  first  time,  was 
glad  that  his  late  master  was  dead  for  King  Leopold 
would  have  shown  him  no  mercy. 

However,  witnesses  were  sent  over  from  Brussels,  and 
amongst  them  was  the  official  who  had  made  inquiries 
into  Marillier's  death.  This  gentleman's  name  was  M. 
Bouvais  and  his  instructions  were  to  proceed  to  the 
Baron's  hotel. 

"  You  are  prepared  to  give  evidence  ? "  De  Croiseuil 
asked  curtly  in  French. 

"  Certainly,  your  Excellency,  but  I  speak  very  little 
English." 

"  That  doesn't  matter.  But,  stay,  I  will  translate  to 
you  what  our  counsel,  M.  Ruggles  —  man  dieu  what  a 
name !  —  what  the  counsel  said  at  the  court." 

Bouvais  listened  attentively,  and  his  face  was  express- 
ive of  blank  amazement. 

"  Now  you  know  what  your  evidence  will  be.  It 
is  not  difficult  to  remember,"  the  Baron  wound  up  cheer- 
fully. 

"  But  it  is  not  the  truth.  I  examined  the  facts  and 
judged  that  Gaunt  was  justified  in  shooting  Marillier. 
The  man  was  canaille"  Bouvais  said  quietly. 

"  You  must  forget  that  and  only  remember  what  I  have 
just  read,"  the  Baron  rejoined  suavely. 

"  I  fear  that  I  do  not  understand  your  Excellency.  As 
a  man  of  honor  I  must  tell  the  truth,"  Bouvais  said  with 
quiet  dignity. 

"  The  exigencies  of  the  service  demand  a  little  sacrifice. 
It  is  essential  that  Gaunt  is  confined  in  prison.  Remem- 
ber what  is  at  stake,  monsieur." 

"  My  honor  is  at  stake  and  I  remember  that." 


276 THE    VOW 

"  Don't  be  foolish,  mon  cher  Bouvais.  We  have  a 
way  of  handsomely  rewarding  those  who  are  zealous  for 
our  interests.  If  I  remember  your  record,  you  were  not 
quite  so  scrupulous  in  the  Congo.  As  a  minor  official 
you  got  more  than  your  quantum  of  rubber,  and  there 
were  a  few  incidents  in  the  collecting  of  it.  There  was 
the  massacre  of  one  village  about  which  the  missionaries 
made  an  outcry.  They  demanded  your  trial,  and  we  pro- 
tected you.  It  was  not  so  very  long  ago  that  you  were  in 
charge  of  a  district.  Of  course  we  denied  that  you  were 
guilty  of  atrocities,  but  how  many  natives  were  killed 
when  that  chief  rebelled  ?  You  wiped  out  many  villages 
and " 

"  They  were  only  natives,  and  I  did  as  I  had  been  or- 
dered. I  did  as  my  brother  officials  have  done  and  are 
doing,"  Bouvais  answered  warmly. 

"  And  yet  you  will  not  consent  to  give  this  evidence 
against  Gaunt  ?  " 

"  No.  He  is  a  white  man,  and  I  liked  him,"  was  the 
decisive  reply. 

"  Ah,  Bouvais,  your  answer  pains  me,  for  I  fear  that 
we  shall  cease  to  be  friends.  You  are  drawing  a  pension, 
and  we  cannot  continue  to  pay  one  who  will  not  go  out 
of  his  way  to  help  us." 

"  The  pension  is  a  small  one  and  I  am  not  a  poor 
man." 

"  And  all  your  wealth  you  have  got  through  us.  This 
is  your  gratitude  to  those  who  gave  you  the  chance  of 
becoming  a  rich  man.  But  you  cannot  be  serious. 
Consider,  my  friend.  You  are  rich  and  we  can  add  to 
your  riches ;  upon  my  recommendation  you  will  receive 
honors." 


THE    VOW  277 


"  But  in  receiving  honors  I  shall  lose  my  own.  I  can- 
not do  this  thing,  and  nothing  you  can  say  will  make  me 
change  my  decision." 

The  Baron  was  a  keen  judge  of  human  nature,  and 
knew  when  he  was  beaten,  so  he  made  no  further  effort 
to  persuade  ^Bouvais. 

"  You  can  go  back  to  Brussels.  I  will  report  upon 
your  disobedience,"  he  said  coldly. 

Bouvais  bowed  slightly,  and  without  another  word 
left  the  room.  He  was  like  dozens  of  his  fellow- 
countrymen,  who  think  nothing  of  killing  off  and  tor- 
turing a  native,  yet  would  hesitate  to  commit  deliberate 
perjury. 

The  Baron  was  thoroughly  irritated  by  his  lack  of 
success,  and,  for  a  while,  paced  restlessly  up  and  down 
the  room  until  he  was  interrupted  by  the  entrance  of  a 
waiter. 

"  Mr.  Weiss  is  here,  sir." 

"  I  cannot  see  him.  Say  that  I  am  engaged,"  the 
Baron  said  impatiently. 

"  I  rather  expected  that,  so  I  took  the  precaution 
of  coming  up,"  Weiss  said  from  the  doorway,  and 
strolled  in. 

There  was  a  glitter  of  anger  in  his  eyes,  but  his  man- 
ner was  very  calm  and  collected. 

"  What  explanation  have  you  to  give  me  of  your  das- 
tardly conduct  ?  "  he  demanded. 

"  I  do  not  understand.  Have  you  any  cause  for  com- 
plaint ?  "  the  Baron  asked  quickly. 

"  You  know  that  you  have  betrayed  me.  It  was  your 
tool  Sherren  who  caused  Davies  to  be  prosecuted,  and  it 
was  you  who  caused  my  name  to  be  mentioned." 


278  THE    VOW 


"  Why  should  I  do  that,  Mr,  Weiss  ?  " 

"  Because  you  wish  to  get  at  Gaunt.  I  came  to  you 
as  a  friend,  and  I  trusted  you.  In  return  you  have  made 
my  name  a  byword." 

"  I  deny  it.  I  have  had  nothing  to  do  with  the  mat- 
ter," the  Baron  said  calmly. 

"  And  Sherren  ?  " 

"  He  had  nothing  to  do  with  it  —  to  my  knowledge. 
I  am  surprised  that  you  can  accuse  me  of  such  dishonor- 
able conduct." 

"I  happen  to  know  that  Sherren  was  the  moving 
spirit.  I  am  not  a  fool,  Baron,  and  understand  that  you 
found  it  necessary  to  sacrifice  me.  You  deny  it  — well 
—  we  will  leave  it  at  that  for  the  moment.  Good-day; 
Baron.  I  think  that  you  will  find  me  a  dangerous 
enemy,"  Weiss  said  menacingly  and  took  his  departure. 

And  the  Baron  resumed  his  restless  walk,  but  he  was 
disturbed  by  the  Jew's  threats,  for  he  knew  the  man  to 
be  powerful.  However,  he  comforted  himself  with  the 
thought  that  Weiss  could  do  very  little  to  injure  him. 
Any  exposure  of  the  part  he  (the  Baron)  had  played 
would  naturally  call  attention  to  Weiss'  own  guilt. 

The  Baron  was  present  at  the  adjourned  hearing 
against  Gaunt,  and  to  his  dismay,  the  magistrate  was 
not  in  the  least  sympathetic.  In  fact  he  commented 
severely  upon  the  evidence  that  was  brought  forward, 
and  when  he  adjourned  the  court  made  some  significant 
remarks  to  Mr.  Ruggles. 

"  I  am  very  dissatisfied  with  this  case.  It  seems  to 
me  that  it  has  been  brought  recklessly,  and  without  suf- 
ficient evidence." 

"  My  material  witnesses  were  in  the  Congo  but  they 


THE    VOW  279 

are  now  on  the  way  to  this  country,"  Mr.  Ruggles  inter- 
vened. 

"  Until  their  arrival,  I  will  say  no  more." 

"  There  is  further  evidence  that  I  can  produce  in  a 
week's  time,"  Mr.  Ruggles  urged. 

"  Then  I  will  adjourn  the  case  till  then.  The  prisoner 
will  be  released  on  the  same  bail." 

"  I  am  instructed  that  there  is  a  grave  suspicion  that 
the  prisoner  intends  to  leave  the  country,  and  I  strongly 
urge  that  your  Worship  will  refuse  to  grant  bail." 

"  May  I  ask  if  my  learned  friend  has  any  evidence  to 
back  up  that  suggestion?"'  Sir  Richard  Tester  asked 
quietly. 

But  Mr.  Ruggles  made  no  answer. 

"  The  insinuation  is  in  keeping  with  the  rest  of  the 
case — groundless,"  Sir  Richard  continued. 

"  The  bail  will  be  as  before,"  the  magistrate  an- 
nounced abruptly. 

And  John  Gaunt,  who  stood  in  the  dock,  drew  a  deep 
breath  of  relief. 


CHAPTER  XXXV 

WHEN  Lady  Mildred  was  told  that  her  sister 
had   gone  away  in  the   motor-car  without 
leaving  any  message,  she  at  once  jumped  to 
the  conclusion  that  her  journey  was  to  London.     She 
had  been  aware  that  Lady  Ethel  had  been  very  anxious, 
and  it  was  natural  to  think  that  she  might  go  to  see  John 
Gaunt  with  the  idea  of  affecting  a  reconciliation  between 
herself  and  her  husband. 

The  week's  solitude  had  somewhat  softened  her  feel- 
ings, but  there  still  remained  some  bitterness.  And  per- 
haps, too,  jealousy  that  Gaunt  would  not  make  a  sacrifice 
to  retain  her  love. 

But  when  the  afternoon  came  to  an  end,  she  began  to 
wait  with  impatience  her  sister's  return,  and  her  restless- 
ness increased  with  each  passing  hour.  When  at  last  the 
sound  of  the  car  could  be  heard  she  ran  eagerly  to  meet 
her. 

"  Where  have  you  been  ?  Why  did  you  not  tell  me 
you  were  going  ?  "  she  demanded  impetuously. 

Lady  Ethel  smiled  a  little  wanly  as  she  threw  off  her 
furs. 

"  I  have  been  to  London.  But  let  us  go  to  your 
room,  dear." 

The  sisters  did  not  speak  again  until  they  were  alone 
and  there  was  great  anxiety  in  Lady  Mildred's  eyes. 

"  I  have  seen  your  husband." 

280 


THE    VOW  281 

"  Tell  me  at  once.  Why  do  you  hesitate  ? "  Lady 
Mildred  cried  vehemently. 

"  It  is  difficult  to  explain  what  happened.  It  was  as  I 
thought.  Your  letter  has  wounded  him  deeply,  and  I 
am  afraid  that  you  must  go  to  him,  if  you  wish  to  be 
forgiven." 

11  Forgiveness  !  "  Lady  Mildred  repeated  scornfully. 

"  Yes.  You,  I  think,  are  in  the  wrong.  If  you  take 
my  advice  you  will  order  the  car  and  go  to  London  at 
once.  You  would  get  there  by  ten  o'clock." 

"  Why  should  I  go  to  him  ?  It  is  I  who  have  been 
wronged,  and  he  must  come  to  me." 

"  If  that  is  your  state  of  mind,  then  I  fear  that  you 
will  remain  apart.  It  is  a  pity,  for  I  am  convinced  that 
you  are  both  passionately  in  love  with  one  another. 
Pride  is  responsible  for  the  ruin  of  many  lives,  and  I 
pray  you  not  to  be  stupid,  dear,"  Lady  Ethel  said  gently. 

Lady  Mildred  was  silent,  and  it  was  evident  that  she 
was  struggling  with  herself.  It  was  strange  to  find  that 
her  sister's  sympathy  was  so  decidedly  in  favor  of  her 
husband,  and  she  began  to  wonder  if,  after  all,  she  her- 
self might  be  to  blame.  But  the  scene  in  court  came 
back  to  her  mind,  and  she  could  hear  the  counsel's  words 
as  he  described  the  charge  against  Gaunt. 

And  while  she  fought  with  her  pride,  she  was  conscious 
that  her  love  for  John  Gaunt  was  burning  fiercely,  and 
that  if  he  were  to  appear  she  would  receive  him  with 
widely  opened  arms. 

"  I  went  to  Park  Lane,  and  no  one  was  there,"  Lady 
Ethel  continued  quietly.  "  I  chanced  to  pass  your  hus- 
band's room  and  I  saw  many  trunks  there,  so  I  imagine 
that  he  is  going  away." 


282  THE    VOW 

Lady  Mildred  drew  a  quick  breath,  and  a  look  of  fear 
crept  into  her  eyes  when  she  remembered  the  talk  in  the 
library. 

Could  John  be  going  to  the  Congo  ?  Was  it  possible 
that  they  were  about  to  carry  out  the  mad  scheme  that 
they  discussed  ? 

"  Ethel,  you  must  come  back  with  me,"  she  cried 
eagerly. 

"  I  am  very  tired,  but  I  will  gladly  come,"  Lady 
Ethel  answered,  and  all  the  listlessness  vanished  in  an 
instant. 

"  Give  orders  for  the  car,  and  I  will  see  about  the 
packing.  Baby  will  stay  here  with  nurse." 

"  You  are  going  to  John  ?  " 

"  Yes.  Yes.  I  have  been  a  fool,  and  I  see  it  for  the 
first  time.  You  are  right,  Ethel.  There  is  only  one 
thing  that  matters." 

"  Love,"  Lady  Ethel  repeated  softly,  and  the  color 
came  to  her  cheeks. 

Half  an  hour  later  the  sisters  were  driving  back  to 
London,  and  the  chauffeur  had  received  instructions  to 
travel  as  quickly  as  possible.  Now  and  then  the  car 
swayed  ominously,  but  neither  of  them  noticed  the  tre- 
mendous rate  at  which  they  were  going.  Lady  Mildred 
began  to  tell  of  Gaunt's  plans  to  hold  up  the  Congo  Free 
State,  and  her  story  was  listened  to  with  intense  eager- 
ness. 

"  Is  Mr.  Drake  going  ?  "  she  asked  in  a  low  voice. 

"  Yes,  and  his  brother.  It  is  a  curious  business  for  a 
parson  to  join  in." 

"  Mildred,  I  warn  you  to  prepare  yourself  for  a  disap- 
pointment if  you  think  that  you  will  be  able  to  persuade 


THE    VOW  283 

your  husband  to  back  out  of  it.  He  loves  you  passion- 
ately ;  but  there  are  some  things  that  have  more  weight 
with  him  than  love." 

"  I  don't  think  he  will  go,  if  I  can  only  see  him,"  Lady 
Mildred  answered  confidently. 

The  conversation  languished  and  they  were  both  re- 
lieved when  at  last  the  car  stopped  at  their  house  in 
Park  Lane. 

"  Is  your  master  in  ?  "  Lady  Mildred  demanded  of  the 
footman. 

"  No,  my  lady.  He  left  a  couple  of  hours  ago,"  was 
the  answer. 

She  entered  quickly  and  ran  up  to  her  room  in  the 
hope  that  there  might  be  a  letter  for  her,  but  there  was 
nothing  there. 

"  I  will  ask  the  servants  if  there  is  any  message.  You 
had  better  rest  quietly ;  you  look  ill,"  Lady  Ethel  said 
and  hastened  away. 

She  returned  in  a  few  minutes,  and  her  face  was  grave 
as  she  sat  down  by  her  sister. 

"  He  has  gone,  and  has  left  no  message  at  all.  I  have 
been  to  his  rooms,  and  the  trunks  are  not  there,"  she  an- 
nounced. 

"  What  does  it  mean  ?  "  Lady  Mildred  asked  hoarsely. 
*  Do  you  think  that  he  can  already  have  started  ?  " 

"  No,  but  we  must  be  very  careful  what  we  say.  We 
must  be  loyal  to  John,  and  we  must  not  arouse  any 
suspicion  among  the  servants." 

"  It  is  nearly  eleven  o'clock  —  too  late  to  do  anything 
to-night,"  Lady  Mildred  said  miserably. 

There  was  a  knock  at  the  door  and  Lord  Lynton  came 
in  hurriedly. 


284 THE    VOW 

"  Have  you  any  idea  where  Gaunt  is  ?  "  he  asked  anx- 
iously. 

"  No.     Haven't  you  seen  him  ?  " 

" I  have  been  dining  with  Sir  Keith  Hamilton,  and 
afterwards  he  talked  to  me  very  plainly.  It  appears  that 
he  has  formed  a  great  liking  for  Gaunt,  and  he  expressed 
his  opinion  very  forcibly  about  this  police  court  business. 
He  is  convinced  that  Gaunt  played  no  unworthy  part  in 
that  Marillier  affair,  and  that  the  whole  thing  is  a  put  up 
job  on  the  part  of  the  Baron.  I  chanced  to  say  that  I 
had  taken  up  rather  a  strong  attitude,  and  he  promptly 
told  me  that  I  was  a  fool,  advising  me  to  go  and  make 
my  peace  at  once." 

"  And  I  have  come  on  a  like  errand,  but  I  am  afraid 
that  we  are  too  late,"  Lady  Mildred  said  brokenly,  and 
tears  forced  themselves  to  her  eyes. 

"  Surely  there  ought  to  be  no  difficulty  in  finding 
him,"  the  Earl  said  decidedly. 

"  Perhaps  he  has  already  left  the  country  ? "  Lady 
Ethel  broke  in. 

"  No,  that's  impossible,  for  he  is  on  bail,"  Lord  Lynton 
replied. 

"  Bail  would  not  prevent  him  from  going.  I  think  I 
ought  to  tell  you " 

But  Lady  Mildred  pulled  her  sister  up  sharply. 

"  We  have  no  right  to  tell  John's  secrets  to  any  one. 
Perhaps  we  are  worrying  ourselves  about  nothing. 
There  may  be  news  in  the  morning,"  she  said  hopefully, 
but  there  was  no  hope  in  her  heart. 

The  morning  came  and  the  sisters  breakfasted  at  an 
early  hour.  But  there  was  no  letter. 

"  Shall  we  call  at  the  Carlton  ?     Captain  Drake  was 


THE    VOW  285 

staying  there,"  Lady  Ethel  suggested,  and  they  visited 
the  hotel,  only  to  find  that  he,  too,  had  left  on  the  pre- 
vious evening. 

"  I  believe  that  he  has  gone  to  the  Congo,"  Lady 
Mildred  cried  vehemently  when  they  were  once  more  in 
the  car. 

Next  they  visited  Gaunt's  office  in  the  city,  where 
they  were  received  by  Mr.  Foster,  the  secretary,  who 
could  give  them  no  information. 

"  Mr.  Gaunt  has  ceased  to  come  here,  my  lady.  In  a 
couple  of  months'  time  the  office  will  be  finally  closed." 

"  When  did  you  last  see  Mr.  Gaunt  ?  "  Lady  Mildred 
asked  eagerly. 

"  Yesterday,  but  I  have  no  idea  where  he  is  at  present." 

"Cannot  you  tell  me  if  he  is  going  abroad?"  she 
persisted. 

"  No,  my  lady.  I  have  no  information  at  all.  It  is 
not  Mr.  Gaunt's  custom  to  tell  me  of  his  movements,  un- 
less he  thinks  it  necessary  for  me  to  know,"  Mr.  Foster 
answered  with  a  smile. 

They  returned  straight  to  Park  Lane,  for  that  was  the 
most  likely  place  at  which  they  would  receive  news,  but 
when  evening  came  Lady  Mildred  was  convinced  that 
her  suspicions  were  correct,  and  she  grew  utterly 
despondent.  It  was  revealed  to  her  how  great  was  her 
love  for  her  husband  now  that  she  believed  that  he  had 
gone  deliberately  into  danger.  All  the  dreadful  things 
that  she  had  heard  of  West  Africa  came  rushing  to 
her  mind,  and  she  grew  desperate  when  she  realized  that 
he  had  left  her  with  anger  in  his  heart.  And  she  broke 
down  completely,  sobbing  piteously ;  in  vain  Lady  Ethel 
strove  to  comfort  her. 


286  THE    VOW 


"  I  love  him  —  oh,  so  much  —  and  it  is  my  fault  that 
we  quarreled.  I  should  have  known  that  he  would  not 
do  so  dreadful  a  thing  as  that  wicked  barrister  charged 
him  with.  What  shall  I  do?  I  must  see  him,"  Lady 
Mildred  cried  passionately. 

"  Perhaps  he  has  only  gone  into  the  country  for  a 
rest,"  her  sister  suggested.  "  I  don't  think  that  he  could 
have  left  for  the  Congo  without  saying  a  word." 

"  You  don't  understand  John.  It  was  my  lack  ot 
trust,  and  that  cruel,  cruel  letter  that  hurt  him.  What  a 
fool  I  have  been." 

The  morning  came,  bringing  no  news,  and  they 
wandered  listlessly  about  the  house.  Suddenly  Lady 
Ethel  gave  a  cry,  and  almost  fiercely  clutched  her  sister's 
arm. 

"  Did  you  not  say  that  they  intended  to  stop  at  the 
Canary  Islands?  To-day  is  Saturday,  and  the  Union- 
Castle  Liner  sails.  Let  us  go  to  Waterloo  and  see  if 
John  or  one  of  the  Drakes  is  there,"  she  cried  impetu- 
ously. 

The  car  was  ordered  at  once,  and  upon  arriving  at  the 
station  they  found  the  boat  train  drawn  up,  and  by  the 
bustle  around  it  was  evidently  soon  to  start.  They 
walked  eagerly  along  closely  examining  each  carriage,. 
but  saw  no  signs  of  either  of  them. 

A  warning  whistle,  and  the  train  moved  away. 

"  Of  course  they  could  join  the  Saxon  at  South- 
ampton, for  John  would  not  wish  to  be  seen.  Could 
we  get  there  in  time?"  Lady  Mildred  cried  excitedly. 

"  At  any  rate  we  can  try,"  Lady  Ethel  answered 
eagerly.  And  then  began  a  mad  race  to  the  port.  She 
urged  the  chauffeur  to  full  speed,  and  the  powerful  car 


THE    VOW  287 


tore  along  the  road.  Once  or  twice  a  policeman  held 
up  a  warning  hand,  but  they  went  on  heedlessly  until 
they  reached  the  dock  gates. 

"  Has  the  Saxon  sailed  ?  "  they  asked  anxiously. 

"Just  about  starting,"  was  the  answer. 

Now  their  progress  was  tantalizingly  slow,  and  when 
at  last  the  wharf  came  in  sight,  they  saw  that  the  ropes 
had  been  thrown  off  and  that  the  big  liner  was  moving 
towards  Southampton  water. 

But  Lady  Mildred's  eyes  were  fixed  on  the  upper 
deck,  and  she  could  just  make  out  the  figure  of  a  man 
leaning  against  the  rails.  There  were  field-glasses  in  the 
car,  and  with  trembling  fingers  she  focused  them. 

"  It  is  John,  and  we  are  too  late,"  she  said  with  a 
gasp. 

But  she  would  not  give  way,  and  turned  to  her  sister 
her  face  white  and  her  lips  trembling. 

"  Our  yacht  the  Heron  is  lying  here.  She  can  be 
commissioned  in  a  few  days,"  she  said  very  quietly. 

"  What  are  you  going  to  do  ?  "  Lady  Ethel  asked  in 
wonder. 

"  Follow  them,"  she  answered  curtly. 

"  And  I  will  go  with  you,"  Lady  Ethel  said  in  a  low 
voice,  but  her  eyes  were  shining  brightly. 


CHAPTER  XXXVI 

THERE  was  a  feeling  of  constraint  when  Gaunt 
led  Edward  Drake  from  the  room  after  the 
latter's  interview  with  Lady  Ethel. 

"  I  am  afraid  that  I  came  in  at  a  rather  inopportune 
moment,  but  this  is  not  the  time  for  love-making," 
Gaunt  remarked  kindly. 

Half  an  hour  later  they  were  with  Captain  Armstrong, 
who  had  just  arrived  from  Newcastle  to  make  final 
arrangements. 

"  We  can  sail  in  a  couple  of  days,"  the  captain 
remarked  cheerfully. 

"  And  if  we  leave  by  the  Saxon  on  Saturday,  you 
can  pick  us  up  at  Las  Palmas.  With  the  superior  speed 
of  the  Esmeralda  you  ought  to  arrive  about  the  same 
time  we  do,"  Gaunt  remarked. 

"She  did  twenty-five  knots  in  her  last  trial,"  the 
captain  answered  complacently. 

"  You  are  quite  satisfied  with  the  men  you  have 
got?" 

"  Yes,  but  I  have  had  to  be  very  cautious,  for  there 
are  one  or  two  naval  men  at  Elswick  who  have  been 
mighty  curious.  I  must  say  that  Senor  Alvarez  has 
played  the  game  skillfully,  for  they  all  think  that  I  have 
entered  the  San  Salvador  navy.  But  I  shall  be  glad 
when  we  are  outside  British  waters." 

"  Then  you  had  better  get  away  as  soon  as  possible. 
Of  course  you  must  not  come  into  Las  Palmas  harbor  ?  " 
Gaunt  asked. 

288 


THE    VOW  289 

"  No,  for  one  doesn't  generally  go  to  South  America 
via  the  Canaries.  I  intend  to  lie  a  few  miles  off,  and  I 
shall  come  ashore  in  the  pinnace.  I  suppose  I  shall  find 
you  at  the  Santa  Catalina  Hotel?" 

"  Yes.  Captain  Drake  will  be  with  us,  and  he  will 
look  after  the  men  who  are  already  there." 

They  dined  at  the  Carlton  Hotel,  and  Captain  Arm-- 
strong was  in  the  highest  spirits,  in  contrast  to  the 
others.  The  meal  had  just  come  to  an  end,  and  they 
had  lighted  their  cigars  when  Edward  Drake  gave  a 
significant  look  at  Gaunt.  The  latter  turned  round  and 
saw  that  the  Baron  de  Croiseuil  was  seating  himself  at  a 
table  on  the  other  side  of  the  room. 

"  It  is  as  well  that  he  should  see  me  here.  Hang  it, 
I'll  go  over  and  speak  to  him,"  Gaunt  said  suddenly,  and 
immediately  hastened  across  the  room. 

"  Good-evening,  Baron,"  he  said  suavely,  and  took  a 
chair  on  the  other  side  of  the  table. 

For  once  in  his  life  the  Baron  lost  his  composure,  and 
flushed  hotly. 

"  You  have  done  your  worst  and  have  failed,"  Gaunt 
continued  quietly. 

"  Not  quite,  for  I  have  effectually  closed  your  mouth, 
my  friend.  It  was  very  painful  to  me  —  the  necessity  of 
taking  these  proceedings.  But  still,  it  is  possible  to  end 
them.  One  word,  and  Mr.  Ruggles  will  explain  that  a 
dreadful  mistake  has  been  made,"  the  Baron  said  coolly, 
after  a  supreme  effort  at  self-control. 

"  I  do  not  intend  to  say  that  word.  You  have  done 
your  worst.  You  have  put  forward  a  false  charge  in  an 
infamous  way.  You  have  attempted  to  ruin  me  utterly. 
And  do  you  think  that  I  am  the  man  to  take  it  lying 


290 THE    VOW 

down  ?  No,  my  friend.  It  soon  will  be  my  turn," 
Gaunt  said  grimly. 

"  You  can  do  nothing,  and  I  am  still  willing  to  be 
friends." 

"  Friends  ! "  Gaunt  cried  contemptuously.  "  Such 
canaille  as  you,  my  friend !  I  would  prefer  an  out  and 
out  Apache.  But  I  won't  detain  you  from  your  dinner. 
Au  revoir,  Baron." 

And  he  was  immediately  ashamed  of  the  outbreak, 
for  he  had  done  no  good  save  to  relieve  his  feelings. 
He  did  not  realize  that  he  had  made  the  Baron  thoroughly 
uncomfortable. 

It  was  decided  that  they  should  leave  Gaunt  House 
that  night  and  go  straight  to  Winchester,  and  there  await 
the  wire  from  Captain  Armstrong  to  the  effect  that  the 
Esmeralda  was  about  to  sail. 

The  next  day  such  a  message  came. 

"You  have  still  time  to  motor  to  Lynton  House," 
Edward  Drake  suggested  as  they  were  getting  ready 
to  start  for  Southampton,  where  they  intended  to  stay 
the  night. 

"  I  have  told  you  that  I  won't  discuss  my  wife  with 
you,"  Gaunt  answered  coldly. 

"  You  are  very  hard,  and  I  think  you  will  regret  it. 
Try  to  put  yourself  in  her  place.  She  was  sorely  tried," 
Drake  protested  quietly. 

In  reply  Gaunt  took  his  wife's  letter  from  his  pocket. 

"  Read  that,  and  if  you  are  a  man  you  will  under- 
stand." 

And  Drake  knew  that  it  was  hopeless  to  make  another 
effort  at  reconciliation.  But  that  night  was  a  very 
miserable  one  for  all  three  of  them.  Each  was  thinking 


THE    VOW  291 

of  the  woman  that  he  loved,  and  remembering  that  in  the 
morning  they  sailed  upon  a  desperate  adventure  from 
which  they  might  never  return. 

Passages  had  been  booked  under  fictitious  names, 
and  they  went  aboard  the  Saxon  just  before  sailing 
time.  However,  there  was  considerable  delay,  and  they 
knew  no  peace  until  the  last  rope  had  been  thrown  ashore. 

And  then  Gaunt  turned  to  Drake. 

"  We  have  started  for  good  or  ill,"  he  said  with  un- 
wonted solemnity. 

"  It  is  for  good,  and  God  is  with  us,"  Edward  Drake 
answered  reverently. 

And  then  he  gave  a  cry.  . 

"  There  is  a  motor-car  with  two  ladies." 

Gaunt  strained  his  eyes  towards  the  shore  and  his  face 
became  very  white  when  he  recognized  his  wife.  He 
did  not  move  his  eyes  from  the  place  where  Lady 
Mildred  stood,  but  his  face  did  not  soften.  The  liner 
cleared  the  point,  and  began  to  travel  more  quickly, 
so  that  in  a  very  few  minutes  the  wharf  disappeared 
from  view. 

And  then  he  turned  away  with  a  sigh  and  walked  to 
the  cabin  which  had  been  reserved  for  him  on  the  deck. 
There  was  a  cold  wind  blowing,  and  he  closed  the  door ; 
not  till  then  did  the  mask  fall  from  his  face.  Love 
tugged  at  his  heart,  and  he  would  have  given  all  he  pos- 
sessed to  be  face  to  face  with  his  wife.  His  anger  van- 
ished, never  to  return,  and  his  longing  for  her  came  back 
with  overwhelming  force.  Now  he  blamed  himself 
bitterly  that  he  had  not  gone  to  her  before  his  departure, 
for  now,  many  weary  weeks  must  elapse  before  he  could 
see  her  again. 


292  THE    VOW 


He  sat  there  thinking  deeply  —  of  the  vow  he  had 
made  —  his  crusade  against  the  rulers  of  the  Congo  — 
and  his  wife.  There  was  a  knock  at  the  door,  and 
the  steward  entered  to  unpack  his  trunk.  Still  he 
did  not  move  until  the  bugle  sounded  the  hour  for 
dressing. 

Almost  mechanically  he  put  on  his  evening  clothes, 
and  went  down  to  the  saloon,  where  the  passengers  were 
busily  looking  for  their  places  at  the  table.  Edward 
Drake  and  his  brother  were  already  there,  but  the 
meal  was  a  very  silent  one,  for  each  was  busy  with  his 
thoughts. 

After  dinner  Gaunt  and  Edward  Drake  went  to  the 
comfortable  smoking-room  on  deck,  and  lighted  their  ci- 
gars. 

"  Now  there  can  be  no  turning  back,"  Edward  Drake 
remarked. 

"  Do  you  wish  to  ?  "  Gaunt  demanded  abruptly. 

"  No.  Except  that  I  was  sorry  to  leave  England 
without  obtaining  the  answer  to  a  question  which  I  had 
asked." 

"  I  suppose  you  refer  to  the  time  when  I  interrupted 
you.  I  am  very  sorry.  Drake,  you  are  a  good  fellow, 
and  I  could  not 'wish  a  woman  a  better  husband." 

"  Thank  you,"  Drake  answered  simply.  "  At  one 
time  I  never  dreamt  of  telling  Lady  Ethel  of  my  love. 
My  brother  Lindsay  is  my  rival,  and  I  thought  that  I 
must  leave  the  way  clear  to  him.  But  love  can  be  self- 
ish, and  I  intend  to  fight  for  my  happiness.  But  it  is 
hardly  credible  that  she  can  care  for  me." 

"  You  never  can  tell  where  a  woman's  feelings  are 
concerned." 


THE    VOW  293 


"  Lady  Ethel  was  with  your  wife  on  the  wharf.  I  am 
sorry  that  they  did  not  come  a  quarter  of  an  hour  earlier. 
Lady  Mildred  will  be  very  miserable." 

"  And  so  will  her  husband.  But  we  won't  talk  of  it, 
Drake.  I  have  made  up  my  mind  to  think  of  one  thing, 
and  one  thing  alone  —  the  Congo.  This  may  be  a  rash 
adventure  of  ours,  but  it  shall  not  fail  from  any  lack  of 
energy  on  my  part.  And  here's  luck  to  it,"  Gaunt  re- 
marked as  he  raised  his  glass  to  his  lips. 

As  they  steamed  down  the  channel  the  weather  grew 
so  rough  that  many  of  the  passengers  were  confined  to 
their  cabins.  But  they  had  determined  to  make  no 
acquaintances,  and  kept  themselves  strictly  to  themselves, 
so  they  were  rather  glad  than  otherwise.  Upon  reaching 
the  bay  of  Biscay,  as  is  often  the  case,  the  sea  was 
smoother  and  they  were  able  to  spend  more  time  in  the 
open  air.  It  was  not  until  the  fourth  day  that  anything 
of  moment  happened.  It  was  just  after  twelve  o'clock 
that  they  saw  smoke  on  the  horizon,  and  soon  they 
could  make  out  a  steamer  that  was  traveling  very 
rapidly. 

"  Looks  like  one  of  our  small  cruisers,"  the  first  officer 
remarked  to  them. 

And  it  was  not  until  the  war-ship  was  but  some  two  or 
three  miles  astern  that  they  knew  that  she  was  the  Es- 
meralda. 

"  She  is  flying  the  San  Salvador  flag,"  the  officer 
remarked. 

Gaunt  ran  for  his  glasses,  and  fixed  them  on  the  vessel 
of  which  he  was  the  temporary  owner  and  his  heart  beat 
more  rapidly  as  he  noticed  her  workmanlike  appearance. 

"  She  is  doing  well  over  twenty  knots,  and  I  should  say 


294  THE    VOW 

she  carries  turbines.  A  smart  little  ship,"  the  friendly 
officer  continued. 

The  Esmeralda  was  quickly  overhauling  them,  and 
soon  signal  flags  fluttered  on  the  Saxon  which  were 
answered  by  the  cruiser. 

"  What  does  she  say  ?  "  Gaunt  asked  quickly. 

"  Only  her  name.  She  is  not  very  communicative, 
and  is  evidently  in  a  hurry." 

The  smoke  was  belching  from  her  stacks  and  she 
seemed  to  spurt  forward  so  that  the  Saxon  was  rapidly 
left  behind. 

It  was  late  at  night  when  they  reached  Las  Palmas, 
and  they  went  ashore  at  once,  to  be  driven  along  pebbly 
streets  to  the  Santa  Catalina  Hotel.  Immediately  upon 
their  arrival  Captain  Drake  left  to  visit  the  men  who  had 
already  arrived  and  were  awaiting  them. 

He  ascertained  from  the  officer  who  had  been  placed 
in  charge  that  there  had  been  no  mishap,  and  that  they 
were  ready  to  embark  at  any  moment. 

Breakfast  had  been  ordered  for  an  early  hour  in  the 
morning,  and  they  had  not  been  at  the  table  very  long 
before  Captain  Armstrong  joined  them. 

"  Everything  all  right  ?  "  asked  Gaunt. 

"  Couldn't  be  better,"  the  captain  answered  briskly. 
"  I  have  a  good  lot  of  men  and  they  are  shaping  well. 
Haven't  had  trouble  of  any  kind." 

"  Good.  Let  us  get  breakfast  over  for  we  mustn't  stay 
here  a  moment  longer  than  we  can  help." 

Tugs  had  been  chartered,  and  by  eleven  o'clock  the 
whole  party  had  left  the  harbor.  There  had  been  many 
inquiries  from  the  officials  of  the  port,  which  Captain 
Armstrong  had  deftly  turned  aside. 


THE    VOW  295 


An  hour  later  they  reached  the  Esmeralda ;  the  men 
were  quickly  got  on  board  and  the  tugs  returned  to  Las 
Palmas. 

Gaunt  and  the  Drakes  stood  on  the  quarter-deck  and 
looked  around  curiously.  Yes.  Captain  Armstrong  had 
done  wonders  in  the  short  time  at  his  disposal. 

Six  inch  guns  stared  at  them  from  squat  turrets,  and 
Edward  Drake  looked  at  Gaunt  with  something  akin  to 
awe. 

"  I  am  beginning  to  realize  what  it  means.  Maybe 
death,  but  life  for  the  natives  of  the  Congo,"  he  said  in  a 
low  voice. 

An  order  from  the  bridge  and  the  flag  of  San  Salvador 
was  lowered.  Then  an  ensign  took  its  place,  which  was 
white  with  a  red  cross. 

"  She  is  doing  close  on  twenty-five  knots,"  Captain 
Armstrong  remarked  as  he  joined  them,  and  there  was  a 
look  of  pride  on  his  face. 

But  no  one  answered,  and  the  men  looked  at  one 
another. 

And  Edward  Drake  sighed. 


CHAPTER  XXXVII 

LADY  MILDRED  did  not  enter  the  car  until  the 
Saxon  had  disappeared,  and  to  her  sister's 
surprise  her  face  was  almost  cheerful. 

"  Captain  Samson  lives  in  Southampton  and  I  am 
going  to  see  him  at  once." 

"  You  really  intend  to  go  to  the  Congo  ?  "  Lady  Ethel 
asked  quickly. 

"  Yes,  and  shall  start  as  soon  as  possible.  The  Heron 
is  at  Summers  and  Payne's  yard,  and  we  will  go  there 
and  find  out  Captain  Samson's  address." 

An  hour  later  they  were  in  the  house  of  the  captain 
of  Gaunt's  yacht,  and  Lady  Mildred  at  once  came  to  the 
point. 

"  Captain,  how  soon  can  the  Heron  start  on  a  long 
voyage  ?  "  she  asked. 

"  A  matter  of  a  fortnight,  my  lady.  The  engineer  is 
tinkering  with  his  turbines  and  has  got  'em  to  pieces," 
Captain  Samson  replied. 

"  What  is  the  shortest  time,  working  night  and  day  ?  " 
she  insisted. 

"  It  might  be  managed  in  a  week,  my  lady,"  the  cap- 
tain answered  reflectively. 

"  It  must  be  quicker  than  that,  captain.  We  will  sail 
on  Friday  next.  Tell  the  steward  to  lay  in  stores  for  a 
long  voyage,  and  the  bunkers  must  be  filled  up." 

"  May  I  ask  where  we  are  going,  my  lady  ?" 

"  First  of  all  to  the  Canary  Islands.  See  the  engineer 
and  have  the  work  started  at  once.  I  shall  be  at  the  Sta- 

296 


THE    VOW  297 

tion  Hotel  on  Thursday  night,  and  I  shall  expect  you 
there.  Good-bye,  captain." 

And  with  a  cheerful  nod  Lady  Mildred  left  him  and 
gave  the  chauffeur  orders  to  drive  back  to  London. 

"  I  don't  understand  you,"  Lady  Ethel  said  timidly. 
"  A  couple  of  hours  ago  you  were  utterly  miserable, 
while  now  you  seem  almost  happy." 

"  I  am  not  sure  that  I  understand  myself.  I  am  only 
thinking  that  in  a  week  or  two  I  shall  see  John.  I  have 
no  fear  how  he  will  receive  me,  for  I've  no  pride  left,  and 
I  am  prepared  to  go  on  my  knees  and  ask  his  forgive- 
ness for  that  cruel  letter,"  Lady  Mildred  said  earnestly. 

"  I  shall  be  glad  to  come  with  you,  dear." 

"  I  am  not  sure  that  I  ought  to  take  you,  for  we 
cannot  catch  them  up  until  they  are  in  the  Congo,  and 
there  may  be  danger." 

"  I  am  not  afraid,"  Lady  Ethel  answered  quickly. 

During  the  next  few  days  they  were  busy  making 
preparations  for  the  voyage,  and  it  was  not  until 
Thursday  that  anything  of  importance  happened.  It 
chanced  that  they  lunched  at  the  Carlton  Hotel  and 
upon  reaching  the  streets  they  heard  the  name  of  Gaunt 
being  shouted  by  the  newspaper  boys. 

"  Disappearance  of  John  Gaunt.     Bail  estreated" 

And  they  read  an  account  of  the  proceedings  at  the 
police  court.  Mr.  Ruggles,  K.  C,  had  been  in  great 
form  and  took  full  advantage  of  the  position. 

"  Listen  to  this,"  Lady  Mildred  cried,  and  proceeded 
to  read  from  the  paper.  "  The  court  was  crowded  this 
morning  at  the  adjourned  hearing  of  the  charge  of 
murder  brought  by  the  Congo  government  against  Mr. 
John  Gaunt.  The  magistrate  took  his  seat  and  the  name 


298  THE    VOW 

of  the  millionaire  was  called,  but  there  was  no  answer. 
At  first  it  was  believed  that  he  had  been  delayed  by 
some  accident,  but  when  half  an  hour  had  passed,  it  was 
murmured  that  he  had  left  the  country.  The  magistrate 
adjourned  the  court  for  an  hour,  and  when  he  again  sat 
the  police  gave  evidence  to  the  effect  that  Mr.  Gaunt  had 
not  been  seen  for  some  few  days.  Inquiries  at  his  office 
and  at  Park  Lane  gave  no  information,  and  it  is  assumed 
that,  for  some  purpose  of  his  own,  he  has  left  the 
country.  Mr.  Ruggles  proceeded  to  address  the  court : 
'  I  must  remind  your  Worship  that  I  anticipated  this 
event  and  strongly  urged  that  bail  should  not  be 
allowed.  In  spite  of  my  urging  you  gave  him  his 
freedom,  of  which  he  appears  to  have  taken  full 
advantage.  I  apply  to  your  Worship  to  grant  a  warrant 
for  his  arrest.' 

'"  Have  you  anything  to  say?'  the  magistrate  asked 
of  Sir  Richard  Tester. 

" '  No,  your  Worship.  I  can  only  think  that  some 
accident  has  happened  to  my  client.' 

" '  We  understand  the  warrant  has  been  signed  and  is 
in  the  hands  of  the  police.'  " 

"  They  will  have  to  go  a  long  way  to  execute  it," 
Lady  Mildred  remarked  with  a  smile. 

"  You  do  not  seem  very  distressed,"  Lady  Ethel 
answered  drily. 

Her  answer  was  a  laugh,  and  they  alighted  from  the 
car  to  be  met  by  Lord  Lynton,  who  was  just  coming  out 
of  the  house. 

"  I  see  you  have  heard  the  news,"  he  remarked  with  a 
glance  at  the  paper  which  she  still  held  in  her  hand.  "  I 
suppose  the  next  we  shall  hear  will  be  of  his  arrest." 


THE    VOW  299 


"  I  don't  think  so,"  Lady  Mildred  answered.  "  Come 
into  the  house,  Geoffrey.  I  want  to  talk  to  you." 

Lord  Lynton  followed  to  her  room,  and  it  was 
evident  that  he  was  very  curious. 

"  You  have  not  the  air  of  a  wife  who  has  just  heard 
that  the  police  are  after  her  husband,"  he  remarked  drily. 

"  Geoffrey,  give  me  your  word  of  honor  that  you 
will  not  breathe  a  word  of  what  I  tell  you,"  she  said 
earnestly. 

"  I  can  keep  a  secret.  It  is  my  business,"  he 
answered. 

"  Well  then,  John  has  gone  back  to  the  Congo. 
Ethel  and  I  are  going  to  follow  him  in  the  Heron. 
We  sail  to-morrow." 

"  The  devil  you  are !  "  he  blurted  out. 

"  Yes,  and  I  think  it  would  be  as  well  if  you  came 
with  us." 

"  You  may  as  well  tell  me  the  whole  story." 

"  Very  well,  but  remember  that  it  is  in  confidence," 
she  answered,  and  proceeded  to  relate  all  that  had  hap- 
pened. 

He  listened  in  open-eyed  amazement,  and  when  she 
had  finished  he  had  lost  some  of  his  wonted  composure. 

"  It  is  pure  madness,  and  the  man  must  be  stopped," 
he  said  hotly. 

"  Remember  your  promise,"  she  said  warningly. 

"  Of  course  I  will,  but  the  thing  is  stupendous.  It 
may  cause  a  European  war." 

"  Will  you  come  with  us  ?  We  need  not  consider 
Europe.  I  am  only  thinking  of  my  husband." 

"  Yes.  I  will  come  if  I  can  get  leave  of  absence. 
When  do  you  leave  ?  " 


300  THE    VOW 


"  We  shall  motor  to  Southampton  in  a  couple  of 
hours'  time." 

"  I  will  be  back  before  that,"  he  answered,  and 
hastened  away. 

Sir  Keith  Hamilton  did  not  keep  him  waiting  very 
long,  and  received  him  pleasantly. 

"  I  suppose  you  have  come  about  your  brother-in-law. 
I  shall  not  be  altogether  sorry  if  he  has  left  the  country 
and  doesn't  return,"  Sir  Keith  remarked  drily. 

"  I  have  come  to  ask  leave  of  absence  for  an  indefinite 
time,"  Lord  Lynton  answered,  and  his  voice  was  very 
grave. 

"  For  what  purpose  ?  " 

"  To  accompany  my  sister  on  her  yacht." 

"  A  pleasure  trip  ?  " 

"  Not  exactly,  sir.     In  fact  I  am  bound  to  silence." 

"  I  see.     Does  this  voyage  concern  Gaunt  ?  " 

"  I  can  say  that  our  destination  is  the  Congo,"  the 
Earl  announced  slowly. 

"  May  I  ask  if  Gaunt  will  be  on  board  ?  " 

"  He  will  not.  But  please  don't  cross-examine  me,  sir. 
I  am  in  a  difficult  position,  and  I  must  keep  my  promise." 

"  Yes,  that  is  necessary,"  Sir  Keith  said  reflectively. 
"  You  can  have  your  leave." 

"  Thank  you,  sir.  May  I  ask  if  you  have  confidence  in 
my  judgment  ?  " 

"  Yes  —  to  a  degree,"  was  the  cautious  answer. 

"  I  can  tell  you  nothing,  but  I  would  suggest  that  the 
first  cruiser  squadron  of  the  Atlantic  fleet  be  sent  to  the 
Canary  Islands  for  a  few  weeks." 

"  That  is  a  large  order,"  Sir  Keith  said  with  a  smile, 
but  his  eyes  were  filled  with  curiosity. 


THE    VOW  301 

"  The  squadron  is  now  at  Gibraltar.  You  know  I 
would  not  suggest  this  without  a  weighty  reason. 
Admiral  Stretton  is  a  fine  sailor,  and  something  of  a 
diplomatist,  I  believe." 

The  foreign  secretary's  eyes  did  not  leave  the  Earl's 
face,  and  it  was  a  long  time  before  he  spoke. 

"  I  think  I  may  venture  to  say  that  the  squadron  will 
cruise  in  the  direction  of  the  Canaries.  May  I  understand 
that  you  will  communicate  with  me  when  you  are  at 
liberty  to  do  so  ?  " 

"  Yes,  sir.     At  the  first  opportunity." 

"  You  can  tell  me  nothing  further  ?  " 

"  I  am  not  sure  that  I  have  not  already  said  too  much. 
I  am  very  anxious,  and  my  responsibility  is  great." 

"  May  I  ask  if  Gaunt  has  already  gone  to  the  Congo  ?  " 
Sir  Keith  said  quietly. 

"  I  cannot  tell  you,  sir." 

"Do  you  anticipate  international  trouble?  I  must 
admit  that  you  have  made  me  rather  anxious.  Cannot 
you  give  any  further  information  at  all  ?  " 

"  No,  sir." 

"  Well,  good-bye,  and  a  pleasant  voyage.  My  regards 
to  your  sister  —  and  her  husband." 

Lord  Lynton  returned  at  once  to  Park  Lane  and  sought 
out  his  sister. 

"  Mildred,  you  must  release  me  from  my  promise.  Sir 
Keith  ought  to  know  everything,"  he  cried  impetuously. 

"  You  must  not  tell  him.  It  is  my  husband's  secret, 
and  if  he  is  to  fail,  it  shall  not  be  through  me,"  she 
answered  firmly. 

"  But  you  have  no  idea  what  is  at  stake.  This  action 
of  Gaunt's  may  precipitate  a  crisis." 


302  THE    VOW 

"  Better  that,  than  I  should  betray  my  husband." 

"  I  agree  with  Mildred,"  Lady  Ethel  broke  in  quickly. 

"  You  are  only  a  child,"  the  Earl  cried  contemptu- 
ously. 

"  But  I  am  coming  with  you,"  she  answered  quietly. 

"  Upon  consideration,  I  think  it  would  be  better  that 
you  should  both  stay  at  home.  There  may  be  danger, 
and  you  will  be  safer  here,"  he  said  firmly. 

He  was  surprised  at  the  laughter  caused  by  his  re- 
mark. 

"  Pray  don't  joke,  and  it  would  be  as  well  to  understand 
that  you  are  coming  as  a  guest  on  my  yacht,"  Lady 
Mildred  said  coldly. 

"  You  mean  that  you  won't  obey  me  ?  "  he  answered 
hotly. 

"  The  car  is  ready.  You  may  stay  in  England  if  you 
wish.  We  are  going,"  Lady  Mildred  said  quietly. 

When  they  reached  Southampton,  Captain  Samson 
was  awaiting  them  at  the  hotel  with  the  news  that  the 
yacht  was  ready  for  sea. 

"  Then  we  sail  to-night,"  Lady  Mildred  said  promptly, 
and  their  luggage  was  taken  aboard  without  any  delay. 

"  Less  than  six  days'  start,"  Lady  Mildred  told  herself, 
and  as  soon  as  they  had  left  the  harbor  she  interviewed 
the  captain. 

"  You  are  to  steam  at  full  speed." 

"  Yes,  my  lady." 

"  It  is  a  matter  of  life  and  death.  Carry  cut  my 
instructions  carefully  and  I  shall  be  very  grateful." 

"  Yes,  my  lady." 

And  the  captain  returned  to  the  bridge. 


CHAPTER  XXXVIII 

THE  sun  had  just  risen  above  the  horizon  and 
through  the  haze  could  be  seen  a  low  lying 
shore  which  gleamed  yellow  in  the  distance. 
On  the  quarter-deck  of  the  Esmeralda  stood  a  group  of 
men,  and  each  held  a  pair  of  marine  glasses  to  his  eyes. 

« Yes  —  that  is  Banana,"  Captain  Armstrong  an- 
nounced decisively. 

The  voyage  had  passed  without  untoward  incident,  but 
no  one  on  board  the  cruiser  had  had  an  idle  moment. 
The  men  above  deck  had  been  drilled,  and  some  practise 
had  been  made  with  the  guns.  The  leaders  of  the  ex- 
pedition had  discussed  every  eventuality,  and  the  next 
few  days  would  prove  whether  they  were  to  meet  with  suc- 
cess or  failure. 

The  ship  was  slowed  down  to  twelve  knots,  and  the 
men  were  rapidly  putting  her  into  battle  trim.  Gaunt 
and  Edward  Drake  watched  them  in  silence,  for  now  they 
had  nothing  to  do  save  to  realize  that  they  were  respon- 
sible for  what  might  end  in  disaster. 

At  last  they  caught  a  glimpse  of  the  mouth  of  the 
Congo,  and  the  Esmeralda  was  turned  directly  towards 
the  entrance  of  the  river.  Captain  Armstrong  joined 
them,  and  it  was  evident  that  he  was  in  the  highest 
spirits. 

"  There  is  only  one  thing  that  I  wish  ;  that  we  were 
flying  the  White  Ensign,"  he  remarked. 

"  I  think  that  of  the  Church  is  more  appropriate," 

3°3 


304  THE    VOW 

Edward  Drake  answered,  and  glanced  at  the  flag  which 
flew  at  the  stern. 

'•  Hallo  !  That  looks  like  a  ship  in  the  distance,"  Arm- 
strong cried,  and  hastened  to  the  bridge. 

The  Esmeralda  spurted  ahead  and  entered  the  rivei 
on  the  far  side  from  the  town  of  Banana. 

"  I  hate  being  only  a  spectator.  I  wish  I  had  some- 
thing to  do,"  Gaunt  said  irritably. 

A  few  miles  up  the  river  towards  Boma  could  be  seen  a 
large  steamer,  which  Gaunt  at  once  recognized  with  the 
aid  of  his  glasses. 

"  It  is  either  the  Albertville  or  the  Leopoldville"  he 
remarked. 

"  Are  they  British  ships  ?  " 

"  They  belong  to  an  English  firm,  although  they  fly 
the  Belgian  flag.  There  is  a  regular  line  of  steamers 
running  from  here  to  Antwerp,  and  I'll  bet  that  this  ship 
is  carrying  a  million  francs'  worth  of  rubber,  and  a  like 
value  of  ivory." 

"  Tainted  with  blood,"  Drake  said  in  a  low  voice. 
"  Please  God  this  tyranny  will  soon  come  to  an  end." 

"  Now  we  are  in  for  it.  It's  sink  or  swim.  See, 
Armstrong  is  signaling  them  to  stop,"  Gaunt  cried 
eagerly. 

They  watched  the  vessel  approaching,  and  soon  an- 
swering  flags  appeared. 

"  Watch  for  Armstrong's  reply.  There  it  goes. 
'  Heave  to  or  we  fire.'  " 

The  next  few  minutes  were  breathless  with  excitement, 
for  the  Leopoldville,  for  that  was  the  name  of  the  ship, 
continued  to  advance ;  but  she  had  slowed  down  per- 
ceptibly. 


THE    VOW  305 


She  came  nearly  abreast  of  them  but  much  nearer  the 
shore  and  still  continued  on  her  course. 

Again  flags  fluttered  from  the  Esmeralda. 

Suddenly  there  was  a  sharp  report  and  a  shot  was 
fired  from  the  cruiser.  But  still  the  Leopoldville  did  not 
stop. 

"  Now  comes  the  critical  moment,"  Gaunt  said  be- 
neath his  breath. 

Again  the  sound  of  a  gun,  and  the  most  skillful  gunner 
was  the  firer  of  the  shot. 

Gaunt's  eyes  were  eagerly  fixed  on  the  liner. 

"  Splendid,"  he  cried.  "  It  hit  her  right  astern.  Her 
rudder  has  gone,  and  probably  her  propellers." 

"  Will  she  sink  ?  "  Drake  asked  anxiously. 

"  I  should  think  not.  The  water-tight  compartments 
ought  to  keep  her  afloat.  Even  if  she  does  go  down, 
there  won't  be  any  loss  of  life." 

The  Leopoldville  gradually  ceased  to  move,  and  she 
lay  there  rolling  gently  with  the  swell.  But  in  a  few 
moments  they  could  see  that  a  boat  was  being  low- 
ered, and  was  rapidly  rowed  in  the  direction  of  the  Es- 
meralda. 

The  red-faced,  indignant,  and  greatly  perplexed  cap- 
tain of  the  Leopoldville  ran  up  the  companionway  where 
he  was  received  by  Captain  Armstrong  and  John  Gaunt. 
Behind  them  stood  Edward  Drake  and  his  brother. 

"  What  is  the  meaning  of  this  outrage  ?  Who  are 
you  ?  "  he  cried  hotly. 

"  One  question  at  a  time,  please,  captain.  This  is  a 
war-ship  engaged  for  a  particular  purpose,  namely,  the 
stopping  and,  if  necessary,  sinking  of  all  ships  which 
carry  rubber  and  ivory  from  the  Congo  to  Europe." 


306  THE    VOW 


"  You  are  dastardly  pirates,"  was  the  angry  answer. 

"  Not  so,  captain ;  for  I  believe  pirates  generally 
go  after  spoil.  Our  motive  is  solely  to  help  the  natives 
of  the  Congo,"  Captain  Armstrong  answered  suavely. 

"Isn't  that  a  parson  standing  there?  Will  you 
kindly  explain  what  it  means  ? "  the  captain  asked  of 
Edward  Drake. 

"  I  can  tell  you  no  more  than  you  have  already 
heard,"  the  latter  answered. 

"  Do  you  mean  to  tell  me  that  you  have  disabled  my 
ship  merely  with  the  idea  of  helping  the  natives  ?  " 

"  Yes,  captain." 

"  Then,  sir,  let  me  tell  you  that  it  is  a  damnably  ab- 
surd action.  My  ship  is  helpless,  and  it  is  impossible  to 
repair  her  without  docking.  What  am  I  to  do  with  my 
passengers  ?  " 

"  Take  them  back  to  Boma,"  Gaunt  broke  in  drily. 

The  captain  of  the  Leopoldville  turned  round  quickly. 

"  I  know  you.     You're  Gaunt,"  he  cried. 

"  You  are  right.  Come  below  and  I  will  give  you  a 
full  explanation.  You  are  an  Englishman  and  we've  no 
ill  feeling  against  you  personally.  It  is  only  right  that 
you  should  know  why  we've  taken  such  a  liberty  with 
your  ship,"  Gaunt  said  pleasantly. 

Half  an  hour  later  the  captain  again  appeared  on  deck, 
and  his  face  bore  a  very  perplexed  look ;  but  all  his  in- 
dignation had  vanished. 

"  Well,  I  am  damned,"  he  muttered  to  himself  as  he 
stepped  into  his  gig.  "  But  I'm  not  at  all  sure  that  I 
don't  wish  that  they  come  out  of  it  all  right.  I  never 
did  like  these  Belgian  Congo  brutes." 

For   the  rest  of  the  day  the  Esmeralda  cruised  about 


THE    VOW  307 

the  entrance  of  the  river  but  no  other  ship  appeared 
until  the  following  morning  when  a  Woermann  liner 
steamed  from  the  north ;  she  was  treated  in  a  similar 
way  to  the  Leopoldville  greatly  to  the  indignation  of 
her  German  captain,  who  came  on  board  the  cruiser 
and  threatened  them  with  the  vengeance  of  the  "  mailed 
fist." 

Captain  Armstrong  was  enjoying  himself  thoroughly, 
and  each  passing  day  claimed  one  or  more  victims,  un- 
til the  mouth  of  the  Congo  was  dotted  with  helpless 
steamers. 

It  was  on  the  third  day  that  a  steam  launch  came  down 
the  river  and  approached  the  cruiser. 

"  A  visit  from  his  Excellency,  the  Governor-General," 
Gaunt  announced,  and  they  gathered  round  the  com- 
panionway  to  receive  the  ruler  of  the  Congo. 

"  Who  is  in  command  of  this  war-ship  ?"he  demanded 
harshly. 

Captain  Armstrong  stepped  forward. 

"  I  am  responsible  for  its  presence  here,"  Gaunt  in- 
tervened. 

The  Count  de  Chambord  gave  him  a  keen  look. 

"  Yes.  It  is  as  I  thought.  You  are  John  Gaunt.  I 
should  like  to  speak  with  you,"  he  said  quickly. 

"  If  your  Excellency  will  come  to  my  cabin,"  Gaunt 
said  politely. 

"  I  received  a  cable  from  Brussels  in  answer  to  my 
report  upon  the  attack  upon  the  Leopoldville  in  which 
they  suggested  that  you  might  be  responsible  for  this 
outrage.  Mr.  Gaunt,  may  I  ask  what  you  hope  to  gain  ? 
Is  it  money  ?  " 

"  No,  Count.     I  stand  to  lose  money." 


308  THE    VOW 


"  And  perhaps  your  life,  for  Europe  will  intervene," 
the  Count  said  significantly. 

"  I  sincerely  hope  so,"  Gaunt  answered  cheerfully.  "  I 
don't  think  we  shall  do  any  good  by  this  talk,  for  it  can 
lead  to  nothing.  We  have  come  here  with  a  deliberate 
purpose  which  we  shall  carry  out  to  the  best  of  our 
ability.  Hello !  The  turbines  have  started.  Don't 
you  think  that  we  had  better  go  on  deck  and  see  what  is 
happening  ?  " 

And  the  governor-general  was  compelled  to  witness 
the  welcome  which  the  incoming  liner,  the  Albertville, 
received,  for  she  was  treated  in  a  similar  way  to  her  sister 
ship. 

"  It  is  a  pity,  for  we  are  running  rather  short  of 
provisions  at  Boma,"  the  governor-general  remarked 
ruefully. 

In  his  way  the  Count  was  something  of  a  philosopher. 

"  I  shall  be  glad  to  put  our  stores  at  your  service," 
Gaunt  said  politely ;  but  the  offer  was  as  politely  re- 
fused, and  the  governor-general  departed  in  his  launch. 

At  dinner  that  night  they  were  all  very  serious,  for  they 
realized  that  in  a  very  few  hours  the  crisis  would  come. 

"  I  think  that  we  have  been  too  successful ;  nothing  has 
gone  wrong.  No  lives  lost,  and  the  Congo  is  at  our 
mercy,"  Gaunt  remarked. 

"  Yes,  until  a  cruiser  turns  up,"  Captain  Armstrong 
answered  drily. 

Edward  Drake  left  the  mess-room  and  went  on  deck. 
It  was  insufferably  hot,  and  he  wished  to  be  alone.  As 
he  strolled  slowly  along  the  deck,  his  lips  moved  in 
prayer,  for  he  understood  only  too  well  that  the  issue  lay 
in  the  balance.  At  times  he  had  been  afraid  of  what  he 


THE    VOW  309 

had  done,  for  the  responsibility  was  so  great ;  but  when 
he  remembered  what  was  at  stake,  his  courage  returned. 

"  We  shall  win,"  he  told  himself  confidently. 

Their  cause  was  just,  for  they  were  fighting  for  free- 
dom and  justice.  Every  peaceable  method  had  been 
tried,  and  only  force  had  remained.  The  smell  of  the 
land  reached  his  nostrils,  and  in  his  imagination  he  pic- 
tured the  scenes  that  were  taking  place  in  the  hinterland 
—  the  maimings,  the  torturings,  and  the  doing  to  death 
of  thousands  of  helpless  fellow  creatures.  Yes,  this  land 
which  stretched  from  the  mouth  of  the  Congo  for  miles 
was  laid  desolate ;  what  had  been  once  a  densely  popu- 
lated country  was  deserted  —  the  work  of  the  white 
men. 

And  when  he  thought  of  Gaunt,  a  glad  light  came  to 
his  eyes,  for  he  had  grown  to  love  the  millionaire  as  a 
brother.  And  then  like  a  fair  picture  Lady  Ethel  came 
to  his  mind,  and  he  wondered  if  she  ever  thought  of 
him. 

"  It  is  stifling,"  Gaunt  called  from  behind.  "  Dream- 
ing, eh?" 

"  I  was  thinking  of  England." 

"  Don't,  my  friend.  We  have  enough  here  to  occupy 
our  minds.  I  thought  that  I  had  passed  the  days  of  tense 
excitement ;  but  now  I  am  like  a  mad  boy  enjoying  his 
first  gamble.  Drake,  I  am  glad  I  came  here.  And  I 
will  tell  you  something  —  I  will  confess  that  now  I  have 
an  honest  desire  to  help  the  natives,"  Gaunt  said  quietly. 

The  next  morning  they  steamed  up  the  river,  further 
than  they  had  hitherto  been.  Gaunt  and  Captain  Drake 
were  on  the  deck,  while  Armstrong  was  standing  on  the 
bridge  with  glasses  in  hand. 


3io  THE    VOW 

Suddenly  there  was  a  sharp  report  —  a  puff  of  smoke 
could  be  seen  on  the  shore  —  and  a  shell  whistled  over 
their  heads.  Another  report  —  and  —  crash  —  the  shell 
pitched  on  the  quarter-deck  and  a  violent  explosion  fol- 
lowed. 

Edward  Drake  came  rushing  from  below,  and  there 
was  horror  in  his  eyes  when  he  saw  two  figures  lying  on 
the  deck.  They  were  John  Gaunt  and  his  brother 
Lindsay. 

Captain  Armstrong  gave  sharp  orders,  and  the  bell  of 
the  indicator  clanged.  The  cruiser  turned  round  and 
raced  at  full  speed  towards  the  mouth  of  the  river. 


CHAPTER  XXXIX 

THE  news  came  to  the  Baron  de  Croiseuil  when 
he  was  lying  in  bed  at  his  hotel.  A  long  cable 
in  cipher  from  Brussels  told  him  what  had  hap- 
pened, and  wound  up  with  instructions  as  to  how  he 
should  act.  By  ten  o'clock  he  was  at  the  foreign  office, 
but  it  was  fully  an  hour  before  Sir  Keith  Hamilton  ar- 
rived. 

"  Good-morning,  Baron,"  the  latter  remarked,  when 
the  Belgian  came  in ;  but  his  greeting  was  not  returned. 

"  I  have  just  heard  from  Brussels  that  a  war-ship  is 
holding  up  all  ships  that  enter  or  endeavor  to  leave  the 
Congo,"  he  announced  dramatically. 

It  needed  a  long  life  training  in  diplomacy  to  give  Sir 
Keith  the  strength  to  receive  the  news  calmly.  For  a 
few  moments  he  did  not  speak,  but  his  mind  was  work- 
ing rapidly. 

"  Give  me  all  particulars,"  he  at  last  said  curtly. 

In  answer,  the  Baron  placed  before  him  a  copy  of  the 
cable,  with  his  instructions  omitted. 

"  Have  you  any  idea  what  it  means  ?  "  Sir  Keith  asked 
quickly. 

"  Yes  —  Gaunt." 

"  May  I  ask  why  you  think  that  he  is  responsible  ?  " 

"  It  is  evident.  His  disappearance,  his  well-known 
animus  against  us,  and " 

"  Ves.  I  think  you  are  right,"  Sir  Keith  interrupted 
him  quietly. 

3" 


312 THE    VOW 

"  What  are  you  going  to  do  ?  It  is  rank  piracy,  and 
the  pirate  is  a  British  subject." 

The  foreign  secretary  glanced  at  the  clock. 

"  I  will  see  you  at  four  o'clock.  In  the  meantime,  I 
must  make  inquiries.  Au  revoir." 

"  We  shall  hold  you  responsible." 

"  Au  revoir,  Baron." 

And  Sir  Keith  turned  deliberately  away,  and  when  he 
was  alone,  a  smile  twitched  at  his  mouth. 

"  I  don't  know  that  I  am  altogether  sorry,"  he  mut- 
tered, as  he  rang  the  bell. 

"  Find  out  if  I  can  see  the  German  ambassador  at  once. 
Then  communicate  with  the  French  and  American  em- 
bassies, and  make  appointments  with  the  ambassadors 
for  two  o'clock.  You  had  better  go  to  them  yourself 
and  make  my  excuses  for  bringing  them  here.  But  the 
matter  is  of  vital  importance,"  he  said  to  his  private  sec- 
retary. 

Half  an  hour  later  Sir  Keith  entered  Prince  Von  Lich- 
tenstein's  library. 

"  Good-morning,  your  Excellency.  This  is  a  copy  of 
a  cable  which  the  Baron  de  Croiseuil  has  received  from 
Brussels.  It  concerns  the  Congo." 

The  Prince  read  the  document,  and  nodded  his  head 
once  or  twice. 

"  The  situation  has  its  danger,"  Sir  Keith  continued, 
"yet  on  the  other  hand,  it  may  be  a  blessing  in  disguise. 
Now  we  have  an  opportunity  of  settling  a  matter,  once 
for  all,  that  might  cause  trouble  when  we  are  not  so  pre- 
pared to  meet  it." 

"  I  see  that  a  German  ship  has  been  detained  and  dam- 
aged," the  Prince  remarked  reflectively. 


THE    VOW  313 


"  This  is  so.  Also  English  ships.  Also  Belgian  ones. 
This  pirate  has  made  no  distinction  as  to  nationality. 
Now,  Prince,  I  am  going  to  drop  the  diplomat  in  favor  of 
the  philanthropist." 

Whereat  the  Prince  smiled. 

"  I  think  the  Congo  question  has  troubled  your  con- 
science as  much  as  it  has  mine  and  that  you  would  have 
been  prepared  to  intervene,  had  it  not  been  for  considera- 
tions to  which  I  will  not  more  particularly  refer." 

Again  the  Prince  smiled. 

"  It  seems  to  me  that  intervention  has  been  forced 
upon  us.  You  are  as  little  desirous  of  international  com- 
plications as  I  am.  And  —  don't  you  think  that  this  is 
a  question  that  we  might  settle  without  the  usual  delays 
of  diplomacy  ?  I  have  drawn  up  a  scheme  for  the  ad- 
ministration of  the  Congo,  and  here  is  a  copy,  from 
which  you  will  see  that  I  propose  to  govern  the  Free 
State  by  a  council  of  four.  Germany,  England,  and 
France  will  each  appoint  a  member,  for  we  are  the  most 
concerned  in  the  Congo,  having  neighboring  colonies." 

"  May  I  ask  who  is  to  be  the  fourth  member  ? "  the 
Prince  asked  suavely. 

"  He  will  be  the  chairman,  and  will  be  appointed  by 
the  President  of  the  United  States.  I  would  suggest 
that  the  chairman  has  a  casting  vote." 

"  Yes,  that  would  solve  many  difficulties." 

"  Prince,  I  have  been  as  anxious  as  any  living  man  to 
put  an  end  to  the  present  iniquitous  rule,  but  our  stupid 
suspicions  of  one  another  have  allowed  the  Belgians  to 
work  their  will.  I  appeal  to  you  to  help  me  solve  the 
question,  once  and  for  all.  I  believe  that  the  Em- 
peror   " 


314  THE    VOW 

"  His  Majesty  has  always  been  anxious  to  remedy  the 
present  deplorable  state  of  affairs.  He  has  taken  a  per- 
sonal interest  in  the  question  and  I  may  say  that  I  have 
certain  powers.  In  fact,  I  think  that  I  can  accept  your 
proposals,  subject  to  the  consent  of  the  other  Powers." 

Sir  Keith  held  out  his  hand  which  the  Prince  grasped. 

"  Yes,  I  think  we  feel  alike.  Sometimes  we  may 
permit  ourselves  to  be  human,"  the  latter  remarked. 

And  it  was  a  busy  time  for  Sir  Keith  until  four  o'clock 
came,  then  he  was  quietly  smoking  a  cigarette  in  his  of- 
fice. 

"  Yes,  I  will  see  the  Baron  at  once,"  he  said  to  his 
secretary. 

De  Croiseuil  came  forward  eagerly,  for  he  had  passed 
a  few  hours  of  terrible  suspense. 

"  Eh  bien ! "  he  remarked  with  well-simulated  calm- 
ness. 

Sir  Keith  placed  a  paper  before  him. 

"  This  is  a  copy  of  a  provisional  agreement  for  the  fu- 
ture government  of  the  Congo  Free  State,  which  has 
been  signed  by  the  Powers  interested." 

The  Baron  took  the  paper  and  his  breath  came  in 
quick  gasps. 

"  You  can  take  the  copy  to  peruse  at  your  leisure. 
And  —  Baron  —  lam  aware  of  the  part  you  played  in 
the  prosecution  of  John  Gaunt.  I  may  say  that  you  are 
no  longer  persona  grata  to  His  Britannic  Majesty's  gov- 
ernment, and  I  shall  suggest  that  your  king  shall  send 
some  other  special  representative." 

Sir  Keith  smiled  pleasantly  until  the  Baron  had  left 
and  then  his  face  grew  hard. 

Then  with  great  deliberation  he  lighted  a  cigarette  and 


THE    VOW 


suddenly  his  face  relaxed  ;  his  mouth  twitched  and  he 
burst  into  a  laugh.  Now  that  the  tension  was  over  he 
was  amazed  at  the  precipitate  way  in  which  he  had 
acted  ;  and  yet  it  was  all  very  simple. 

"And  the  insane  jealousy  of  England  and  Germany 
has  given  the  Belgians  a  free  hand  for  so  long,  while  it 
appears  that  both  the  countries  were  anxious  to  put  an 
end  to  the  rule  of  tyranny." 

Yes.  He  had  done  a  capital  day's  work,  and  after 
all  it  was  John  Gaunt  who  had  given  him  his  opportu- 
nity. 

"  And  now  to  save  the  fool  from  the  consequences  of 
his  folly,"  he  muttered  to  himself. 

A  long  consultation  took  place  with  the  officials  at  the 
Admiralty,  and  when  they  had  arrived  at  a  decision,  the 
operator  above  them  sent  forth  wireless  messages  that 
were  to  affect  the  future  of  John  Gaunt. 

The  evening  papers  had  already  received  news  of  the 
hold-up  of  the  Congo  ;  the  facts  were  related  with  a  fair 
degree  of  accuracy  and  Sir  Keith  read  the  comments 
with  quiet  amusement. 

"  It  is  plain  what  will  happen.  The  great  British  pub- 
lic will  make  a  hero  of  John  Gaunt." 

In  fact,  the  more  serious  of  the  papers  were  already 
demanding  the  intervention  of  the  government 

"  One  man  has  shown  England  its  duty.  With  fearless 
courage  John  Gaunt  has  tackled  the  problem,  and  at  great 
risk  to  himself"  said  the  Evening  Herald,  and  went  on 
to  demand  protection  for  Gaunt. 

The  next  day  it  was  plain  that  the  English  people 
were  thoroughly  roused  and  were  determined  that  the 
Belgian  rule  of  the  Congo  must  come  to  an  end.  All 


3^6 THE    VOW 

parties  for  once  were  united,  and  a  mass  meeting  was  an- 
nounced to  take  place  at  the  Royal  Albert  Hall. 

Sir  Keith  Hamilton  invited  the  German  ambassador 
to  lunch. 

"  Don't  you  think  it  would  be  as  well  to  put  an  end  to 
this  clamor  as  soon  as  possible  ?  "  he  suggested. 

"  I  have  just  received  the  Emperor's  intimation  that 
the  agreement  will  be  ratified.  I  have  no  objection  to 
its  being  made  public  at  once,  in  spite  of  the  vehement 
protests  from  Belgium,"  the  Prince  replied. 

"  I  am  not  at  all  sure  that  the  better  class  of  Belgians 
won't  be  glad  to  hear  the  news.  I  will  communicate 
with  the  French  and  American  ambassadors,  and  I  hope 
that  we  can  make  the  news  public  in  the  morning,"  said 
Sir  Keith. 

And  then  he  returned  to  the  foreign  office  to  receive 
the  Belgian  ambassador,  to  whom  he  listened  very 
patiently. 

"  I  understand  from  the  Baron  de  Croiseuil  that  you 
have  taken  the  government  of  the  Congo  Free  State 
from  our  hands." 

"  C'est  un  fait  accompli,  your  Excellency,  and  won't 
permit  of  discussion,"  Sir  Keith  answered  with  an  air  of 
finality. 

"  This  man  Gaunt.  Is  he  to  be  allowed  to  escape 
without  punishment?  He  has  been  guilty  of  an  act  of 
rank  piracy,"  the  ambassador  cried  hotly. 

"  Gaunt  will  be  dealt  with ;  but  I  cannot  tell  you  what 
punishment  he  will  receive." 

At  last  the  Belgian  departed,  and  before  Sir  Keith  left 
his  office  he  knew  that  the  provisional  agreement  had 
been  ratified  by  the  other  Powers  concerned.  That 


THE    VOW  317 

night  a  statement  was  sent  to  the  press  announcing  the 
terms  of  the  arrangement,  and  in  the  morning  en- 
thusiastic "  leaders  "  appeared  welcoming  this  solution  of 
the  Congo  problem. 

But  there  was  one  question  that  troubled  every  one  — 
what  was  to  happen  to  John  Gaunt  ?  And  no  one  could 
give  the  answer.  Sir  Keith  Hamilton  smiled  to  himself 
as  he  perused  a  wireless  message  that  had  been  sent  to 
him  from  the  Admiralty. 

"  I  think  Stretton  is  the  man  for  the  job,"  he  muttered 
reflectively. 


CHAPTER  XL 

EDWARD  DRAKE  knelt  down  beside  his 
brother,  and  to  his  dismay  saw  that  Lindsay  was 
seriously  wounded.  The  doctor  came  and  the 
two  injured  men  were  carefully  carried  to  the  sick  bay. 

The  Esmeralda  was  completely  fitted  up,  and  even 
contained  a  small  operating  theatre  to  which  Lindsay 
Drake  was  taken  —  unconscious  and  groaning. 

The  doctor  made  a  summary  examination  of  both  the 
patients  and  his  face  was  very  grave  when  he  came  out. 

44  Mr.  Gaunt  is  not  badly  injured;  a  splinter  struck 
him  on  the  head,  and  perhaps  there  is  some  concussion 
of  the  brain,  but  there  is  no  danger,"  he  announced. 

"  But  my  brother?  "  Edward  Drake  asked  hoarsely. 

"  I  can  do  nothing,  except  to  ease  the  pain,"  was  the 
reluctant  answer. 

«  He  will  die  ?  " 

"  Yes.  Vital  organs  are  injured,  and  it  will  be  useless 
to  operate." 

"  I  must  go  to  him,"  Drake  said  very  quietly,  but  his 
face  was  white  and  drawn.  The  doctor  led  the  way,  and 
then  left  the  brothers  alone.  Lindsay  Drake  opened  his 
eyes  and  looked  listlessly  at  his  brother. 

"  I  am  done  for,  Edward,"  he  whispered. 

"  It  is  my  fault.  But  for  me  you  would  never  have 
come  here." 

"The  fortune  of  war,  and  I'm  not  sure  that  I  am 
altogether  sorry." 


THE    VOW 319 

Edward  Drake  had  sunk  on  his  knees  and  he  spoke  a 
simple  prayer  that  was  eloquent  of  great  sorrow. 

"  Doctor,  shall  I  last  long  ?  "  Lindsay  asked  faintly. 
"  This  pain  is  more  than  I  can  bear." 

The  doctor  drew  near  and  skillfully  injected  morphia. 

"  Ah !  That  is  better,"  the  dying  man  said  with  a 
sigh.  "  How  long  have  I  to  live  ?  " 

"  Captain,  you  are  dying,"  the  doctor  answered,  and 
his  voice  shook. 

"  Please  leave  us.  Thank  you  for  your  kindness. 
Good-bye." 

"  Good-bye,  captain." 

Alone,  the  brothers  looked  at  one  another,  over- 
whelming sorrow  in  their  eyes. 

"  You  know  my  secret,  Edward.  Sometimes  I 
thought  that  she  cared  for  me,  but  at  others  I  was 
despondent,  for  what  had  I  to  offer  to  such  a  woman  ?  " 

"  Your  love,  Lindsay,  and  I  believe  that  that  would 
have  meant  everything  to  Lady  Ethel." 

"  You  think  so  ?  "  he  said,  and  his  eyes  brightened. 
"  Wish  her  good-bye,  and  ask  her  sometimes  to  think  of 
me.  Ah  !  Edward,  I  am  very  sentimental  —  I  suppose 
it's  the  dying.  It  hasn't  been  a  bad  life.  I  don't  believe 
I've  done  many  dirty  actions.  I've  tried  my  best.  But 
it's  hard  to  think  that  I  shall  never  hear  her  say  that  she 
loves  me." 

There  were  tears  in  Edward  Drake's  eyes  as  he  bent 
his  head  and  touched  his  brother's  forehead  with  his 
lips. 

"  I  know  you'll  miss  me,  old  chap.  But  perhaps  my 
death  won't  be  useless.  Something  tells  me  that  you 
will  win." 


320  THE    VOW 


And  the  eyes  closed  wearily,  and  his  brow  was 
puckered  by  a  frown  of  pain. 

"  Don't  let  Ethel  grieve.  But  perhaps  she  doesn't 
care.  If  only  I  knew,"  he  said  wistfully. 

There  was  a  silence,  broken  only  by  his  labored 
breathing,  and  Edward  knew  not  what  to  say  to  soothe 
his  brother's  dying  moments.  But  quickly  he  bent  his 
head  to  listen. 

"  Mother." 

And  it  was  with  the  name  of  his  parent  on  his  lips  and 
not  that  of  the  woman  he  loved,  that  Lindsay  died. 
For  a  long  time  Edward  knelt  there,  with  a  great  sorrow 
in  his  heart.  Gladly  would  he  have  given  his  own  life 
for  his  brother,  but,  alas,  he  had  been  able  to  do  nothing. 

At  last  he  rose  and  gazed  steadily  at  his  brother's  face, 
and  there  was  something  of  awe  in  his  eyes.  Outside 
the  doctor  was  waiting  and  murmured  a  few  words  of 
sympathy. 

"  How  is  Mr.  Gaunt  ?  "  Edward  asked  quietly,  and  his 
voice  sounded  strange  in  his  ears. 

"  Still  unconscious.  But  there  is  no  danger,  so  long 
as  he  is  kept  quiet." 

Drake  went  on  deck  where  he  was  immediately  joined 
by  Captain  Armstrong,  who  gripped  his  hand  in  silent 
sympathy. 

"  I  have  just  pulled  up  another  steamer,"  the  captain 
remarked  cheerfully ;  and  that  was  his  way  of  concealing 
his  sorrow. 

Life  on  board  continued  as  though  nothing  had 
happened,  but  when  the  sun  rose  in  the  morning,  every 
man  on  the  ship  stood  bareheaded  on  deck.  Wearing 
his  robes  of  office,  Edward  Drake  stood  prayer-book  in 


THE    VOW  321 

hand,  and  in  a  steady  voice  read  the  words  of  the  burial 
service  over  his  brother's  body,  which  rested  before  him, 
swathed  in  the  flags  of  his  country. 

His  voice  died  away,  and  he  turned,  and  the  sound  of 
the  cleaving  of  water  struck  his  ears.  His  face  was  set 
and  he  gave  a  little  cry  when  he  saw  that  John  Gaunt 
was  behind  him. 

"  I  told  Mr.  Gaunt  that  he  must  not  come,"  the  doctor 
cried  in  great  distress. 

But  the  millionaire  smiled  and  held  out  his  hand  to 
Drake. 

"  I  wish  it  had  been  I,"  he  said  simply,  and  then  fell 
back  into  the  doctor's  arms  unconscious. 

"  This  will  probably  delay  the  recovery  for  weeks,"  the 
latter  cried  angrily,  as  he  helped  to  carry  his  patient 
back  to  his  bunk. 

When  Drake  looked  round,  he  noticed  that  the  flag 
was  once  more  flying  from  the  top  of  the  mast  and  he 
sighed  wearily.  He  blamed  himself  for  his  brother's 
death,  and  a  feeling  of  great  despondency  held  him  in 
its  clutches.  All  the  sweetness  seemed  to  have  vanished 
from  life,  and  yet  he  could  not  have  acted  differently. 
Had  God  decreed  his  brother's  death  as  a  judgment 
upon  him  for  attempting  to  right  the  wrong-doing  by 
force?  And  he  sought  the  solitude  of  his  cabin  to 
wrestle  with  his  grief.  It  was  not  till  the  afternoon  that  he 
again  appeared  and  then  his  face  was  calm  and  resigned. 

The  Count  de  Chambord  paid  them  another  visit 
and  was  received  by  Captain  Armstrong,  but  asked  to 
see  Gaunt. 

"  He  is  injured  and  must  not  be  disturbed,"  the  cap- 
tain answered. 


322  THE    VOW 


"  It  was  reported  to  me  that  a  shell  had  struck  your 
ship.  I  presume  that  you  will  now  go  about  your  busi- 
ness ?  " 

"  Not  until  we  are  compelled  to,"  was  the  brusque 
reply. 

"  It  was  also  reported  to  me  that  a  burial  took  place 
this  morning  from  the  ship.  From  the  ceremony  which 
was  observed,  I  wondered  if  it  were  Gaunt  himself  who 
had  been  killed." 

"  Mr.  Gaunt  is  below  and  in  no  danger.  Can  I  do 
anything  for  you  ?  If  not " 

The  captain  paused  significantly  and  the  Count  took 
his  departure  without  asking  any  more  questions.  Dur- 
ing the  rest  of  the  day  they  cruised  around  the  mouth  of 
the  river,  but  nothing  occurred  to  break  the  monotony. 
The  death  of  Captain  Drake  seemed  to  have  subdued 
the  spirits  of  all  on  board,  for  he  had  made  himself  very 
popular  among  the  men. 

After  dinner  Gaunt  insisted  on  holding  a  conference 
with  Captain  Armstrong  and  Drake,  in  spite  of  the  pro- 
tests of  the  doctor ;  and  their  future  policy  was  discussed 
at  great  length.  They  were  in  utter  ignorance  of  what 
was  happening  in  Europe,  so  that  they  could  do  nothing 
but  wait  events. 

To  the  doctor's  consternation,  Gaunt  became  feverish, 
and  the  fever  was  diagnosed  to  be  malaria.  In  fact, 
many  of  the  men  had  begun  to  suffer  from  the  same 
disease,  in  spite  of  the  quantities  of  quinine  that  had 
been  served  out.  Edward  Drake  was  glad  of  the  oppor- 
tunity for  action,  and  busied  himself  in  nursing  the  sick. 

The  following  day  the  doctor  announced  that  Gaunt's 
temperature  was  dangerously  high. 


THE    VOW  323 


"  He  has  a  strong  constitution,  but  it's  the  two  things 
coming  together,"  he  said,  and  Drake  could  see  that  he 
was  very  anxious. 

The  heat  was  terrible  although  the  ship  was  fitted  with 
electric  fans,  and  as  he  sat  in  the  sick  bay,  Edward  Drake 
felt  that  he  too  was  reaching  the  end  of  his  strength. 
But  Gaunt's  voice  sounded  in  his  ears,  and  he  was  com- 
pelled to  listen  to  his  delirious  ravings. 

It  was  of  the  vow  that  he  spoke  and  of  his  love  for  his 
wife.  He  seemed  to  be  living  again  the  last  few  weeks 
and  for  the  first  time  Drake  really  understood  how  great 
was  his  love  for  Lady  Mildred,  and  what  tremendous 
strength  of  character  he  must  possess  to  have  been  able 
to  keep  the  promise  that  he  had  made. 

And  Gaunt  must  die,  ignorant  of  whether  his  sacrifice 
of  self  had  gained  success  or  failure.  At  last  the  fever 
broke  and  the  delirium  ceased,  but  the  millionaire  was 
very  weak  and  would  require  careful  nursing. 

Drake  went  to  his  cabin,  but  sleep  was  far  away,  for 
he  was  thinking  of  his  brother,  and  of  Lady  Ethel. 
How  should  he  face  her  and  tell  of  Lindsay's  death  ? 
Now  he  believed  that  she  loved  his  brother,  and  in 
his  imagination  he  could  see  the  stricken  look  come 
into  her  eyes. 

What  were  they  doing  ?  Lady  Mildred  must  have 
known  that  they  were  sailing  on  the  Saxon  or  she  would 
not  have  gone  to  the  wharf,  and  it  was  natural  to  think 
that  she  would  remember  their  talk  of  the  Congo.  They 
had  discussed  the  whole  scheme  in  her  presence.  Surely 
she  would  not  remain  inactive  ? 

In  the  morning  he  was  awakened  by  a  summons  from 
Gaunt  and  he  went  to  him  immediately. 


324  THE    VOW 


"  I  am  much  better  this  morning.  I  was  wondering  if 
we  had  done  enough  for  our  purpose.  They  tell  me 
that  more  of  the  men  are  sick.  Wouldn't  it  be  as  well 
to  steam  away  from  this  pestilential  coast  ? "  Gaunt 
asked  wearily. 

"  Are  you  going  to  weaken  —  now  ?  "  Drake  asked  re- 
proachfully. 

"  I  was  not  thinking  of  myself  but  of  the  men.  If 
Europe  is  going  to  intervene,  she  will  already  have  done 
so.  I  don't  see  what  good  we  shall  do  by  remaining." 

"  We  must  see  it  through.  You  are  ill  or  I  don't 
think  that  you  would  suggest  that  we  should  play  the 
coward." 

"  Perhaps  you  are  right,"  Gaunt  answered  with  a  sigh. 

There  is  nothing  more  demoralizing  than  convales- 
cence after  malaria,  and  at  such  moments  a  man  is  not 
really  responsible  for  himself. 

The  next  day  Gaunt  was  much  better  and  there  was  a 
look  of  shame  on  his  'face  when  Drake  entered. 

"  I  must  have  been  mad,"  he  said  apologetically. 

"  Not  mad  —  only  ill,"  Drake  answered  gently. 

Captain  Armstrong's  head  appeared  at  the  door. 

"  There's  a  large  yacht  about  five  miles  off.  She's 
evidently  coming  to  pay  us  a  visit,"  he  announced. 

"  Describe  her  to  me,"  Gaunt  cried  quickly,  and  the 
captain  obeyed. 

"  She's  mine.  It's  evidently  the  Heron"  the  millionaire 
cried  and  he  looked  at  Drake,  but  neither  of  them  spoke. 


CHAPTER  XLI 

THE  Heron  steamed  at  full  speed  from  South- 
ampton to  Las  Palmas,  but  she  did  not  travel 
fast  enough  for  Lady  Mildred,  who  made  Cap- 
tain Samson's  life  miserable  by  the  way  she  worried  him. 

"  Won't  she  go  any  faster,  captain  ?  " 

"  No,  my  lady.  She  is  doing  over  twenty-four  knots," 
he  answered  reproachfully. 

As  soon  as  they  arrived  at  Las  Palmas,  Lord  Lynton 
hastened  ashore  and  it  was  not  very  long  before  he  as- 
certained that  a  number  of  men  had  left  the  island  to 
join  a  cruiser.  He  returned  with  this  information  and 
there  could  be  no  doubt  that  Gaunt  had  gone  to  the 
Congo. 

Lady  Mildred  sent  for  the  captain  and  announced 
their  destination. 

"  It  isn't  a  fit  place  for  your  ladyship  to  visit.  You 
will  be  sure  to  get  fever,"  he  protested  nervously. 

"  We  start  at  once,  captain.  Mr.  Gaunt  is  there,  and 
it  is  important  that  we  arrive  at  the  earliest  possible  mo- 
ment," Lady  Mildred  answered,  and  then  proceeded  to 
tell  the  story  of  Gaunt's  expedition. 

The  captain  listened  in  open-eyed  amazement,  but  he 
no  longer  hesitated,  and  orders  were  given  that  the  yacht 
should  sail  at  once.  To  Lady  Mildred  these  few  days 
seemed  interminable,  and  as  they  drew  near  her  suspense 
increased.  At  last  the  mouth  of  the  Congo  came  in 
sight  and  with  the  aid  of  glasses  they  could  see  the 

325 


326  THE    VOW 


many  disabled  steamers.  It  was  Captain  Samson  who 
first  made  out  the  Esmeralda  and  he  came  from  the 
bridge  to  tell  them. 

Lady  Mildred  was  putting  on  a  pith  helmet  and  her 
face  had  grown  very  pale. 

"  I  wonder  what  has  happened  ?  "  she  muttered  to  her- 
self. "  Captain,  will  you  get  a  launch  ready?  I  want  to 
go  on  board  at  once,"  she  said  aloud. 

"  There  is  a  pinnace  putting  off  from  the  cruiser,  my 
lady,  and  she  is  traveling  towards  us  at  a  good  speed," 
the  captain  answered. 

Lady  Mildred  put  the  glasses  to  her  eyes  and  gave  a 
cry  at  what  she  saw. 

"  There  is  only  one  man  astern.  It  is  not  John.  I 
think  it  is  Mr.  Drake." 

"  Let  me  see,"  Lady  Ethel  cried  eagerly,  and  she  al- 
most snatched  the  glasses  from  her  sister. 

Lady  Mildred  turned  away  for  she  wished  to  hide  her 
distress.  It  was  evident  that  they  had  recognized  the 
Heron ,  and  why  had  not  her  husband  come  to  meet  her  ? 
Was  it  that  he  could  not  forgive  her  ? 

Sailors  were  busy  lowering  the  companionway,  and 
the  launch  drew  alongside.  Edward  Drake  jumped  lightly 
onto  the  platform  and  hastened  up  to  greet  them. 

"  Where  is  Mr.  Gaunt  ? "  Lady  Mildred  cried,  before 
he  could  utter  a  word. 

"  He  is  ill,  and  the  doctor  says  that  he  is  not  fit  to  stand 
any  excitement.  That  is  why  I  have  hastened  to  meet 
you,"  he  answered  quickly. 

"  What  has  happened  ?  Is  he  dangerously  ill  ?  "  sh* 
asked,  and  her  voice  shook  with  fear. 

"  No.     He  is  out  of  danger.     Shall  we  go  to  your 


THE    VOW  327 

cabin  ?  I  have  a  lot  to  tell  you,"  he  asked ;  and  Lady 
Mildred  led  the  way. 

Edward  Drake  stood  and  faced  them,  and  they  could 
see  the  deep  lines  brought  to  his  face  by  grief  and  pain. 
But  his  voice  was  steady  when  he  began  to  tell  them  all 
that  had  happened.  It  was  only  when  he  spoke  of  his 
brother's  death  that  he  faltered,  and  dared  not  look  at 
Lady  Ethel. 

"  Mr.  Gaunt  is  in  no  danger,  but  you  must  be  very 
careful.  Before  you  go  to  the  Heron  I  should  like  to 
speak  to  you  alone,  Lady  Mildred." 

Lord  Lynton  and  Lady  Ethel  moved  away,  and  for 
the  first  time  Drake  glanced  at  the  woman  he  loved. 
She  was  crying  quietly,  and  tears  were  streaming  down 
her  cheeks. 

When  they  had  gone,  he  turned  to  Lady  Mildred,  and 
his  face  was  very  grave. 

"  I  think  I  am  justified  in  breaking  a  confidence.  I 
have  thought  deeply,  and  am  sure  it  is  my  duty  to  tell 
you  the  reason  why  your  husband  has  acted  as  he  has 
done.  I  am  aware  that  you  have  felt  bitter  towards  him, 
but  it  was  because  you  did  not  know." 

"  Mr.  Drake,  you  need  not  tell  me.  I  am  ashamed  of 
my  conduct,  and  I  have  come  to  my  husband  to  ask  his 
forgiveness,"  she  answered  in  a  low  voice. 

"  Still,  I  think  you  should  know.  Gaunt  is  a  man  in  a 
thousand,  and  I  want  you  to  understand  his  character. 
He  has  always  loved  you  passionately  from  the  first  time 
you  met,  but  he  was  determined  to  conceal  his  love  until 
he  had  won  you.  He  thought  he  was  succeeding  until 
that  terrible  day  when,  it  seemed  that  in  all  human  prob- 
ability you  would  die.  Gaunt  was  in  utter  despair,  and 


328  THE    VOW 

in  his  agony  he  turned  to  God.  You  must  remember 
that  the  specialist  had  told  him  that  there  was  no  hope 
of  your  living.  He  prayed  to  God,  and  made  a  bargain 
with  Him.  Gaunt  told  me  the  very  words  he  used,  and 
they  are  imprinted  on  my  memory.  '  Give  me  the  life 
of  my  wife,  and  I  swear  that  every  action  of  my  life  shall 
be  deliberately  thought  out,  and  shall  be  in  accordance 
with  the  teaching  of  Christ.'  " 

Drake  paused,  and  he  could  see  that  Lady  Mildred 
was  listening  with  breathless  attention. 

"  And  since  that  night,  when  God  gave  him  your  life, 
he  has  struggled  nobly  to  keep  that  vow.  That  is  the 
reason  why " 

"  Stop  !  "  she  cried  harshly. 

Her  face  worked  painfully  as  everything  became  clear 
to  her  mind.  She  knew  her  husband's  pride  that  he  al- 
ways kept  his  word,  and  she  could  understand  how 
fiercely  he  must  have  been  tempted  to  abandon  the  ful- 
filment of  his  vow,  and  it  was  she  herself  who  had  made 
his  task  a  thousand  times  more  difficult. 

"  What  a  man  !  "  she  muttered  feverishly. 

And  pride  and  love  overwhelmed  her  so  that  she  grew 
afraid. 

"  You  are  sure  that  his  life  is  not  in  danger  ?  "  she  said 
tremulously. 

"  Quite.     So  long  as  you  do  not  excite  him." 

"  You  may  trust  me,  Mr.  Drake.  His  life  is  too  pre- 
cious to  me." 

Suddenly  she  seized  his  hand  and  pressed  it  to  her  lips. 

"  And  I  am  proud  of  your  friendship  for  my  husband. 
But  I  have  been  selfish.  I  have  forgotten  your  terrible 
loss.  What  can  I  say  to  comfort  you  ?  " 


THE    VOW  329 


"  And  your  sister,  for  I  believe  she  loved  Lindsay." 

She  gave  him  a  quick  look,  but  remained  silent. 

"  May  I  go  to  John  at  once  ?  I  promise  that  I  will  be 
quite  calm,"  she  said  at  last. 

In  a  few  minutes  the  launch  was  rapidly  taking  them 
to  the  cruiser.  Drake  refused  to  allow  either  Lord 
Lynton  or  Lady  Ethel  to  accompany  them,  and  he 
would  give  no  reason  for  his  refusal. 

As  soon  as  they  reached  the  deck  of  the  cruiser, 
Drake  hastened  to  the  sick  bay. 

"  Gaunt,  your  wife  is  here,"  he  said  quietly. 

"  Bring  her  to  me,  and  you  will  leave  us  alone." 

And  Lady  Mildred  stood  in  the  doorway,  hesitated  for 
a  moment,  then  ran  to  the  bunk  where  her  husband  lay« 

"John." 

She  knelt  by  his  side  and  pressed  her  lips  to  his. 

"  Forgive  me,  dear.  I  was  cruel,  but  I  did  not  under- 
stand," she  whispered. 

Their  eyes  met  and  there  was  no  need  for  words. 
Understanding  came  to  them  and  the  past  seemed  as 
though  it  had  not  been.  And  she  sat  by  his  side,  her 
hand  resting  on  his,  but  she  did  not  speak. 

"  You  should  not  have  come,"  he  said  reproachfully. 

But  she  leant  over  and  kissed  him  on  the  lips. 

"  I  care  for  nothing  so  long  as  I  am  with  you,"  she 
whispered  tenderly. 

The  doctor  came  in,  glanced  keenly  at  his  patient,  and 
relief  came  to  his  face  when  he  had  felt  Gaunt's  pulse. 

"  May  I  stay  ?  I  will  be  very  quiet,"  Lady  Mildred 
said  appealingly. 

"  Yes,  I  think  that  he  is  already  better,  but  don't  talk 
too  much,"  the  doctor  said  warningly. 


330  THE    VOW 

Soon  Lady  Mildred  began  to  think  of  the  future.  In 
her  anxiety  for  her  husband's  health,  she  had  forgotten 
that  they  were  in  a  war-ship,  that  had  been  guilty  of  acts 
that  might  be  regarded  as  piratical. 

What  would  happen  ?  Would  John  be  punished  for 
what  he  had  done  ?  She  dared  not  question  him,  but  she 
felt  that  she  must  know.  His  eyes  were  closed  and  she 
tried  to  remove  her  hand  from  his,  but  he  stirred 
restlessly.  At  last  his  grip  relaxed,  and  she  went  on 
deck  where  she  found  Edward  Drake  who  was  talking  to 
Captain  Armstrong. 

"  What  is  going  to  be  the  end  of  this  ? "  she  asked, 
and  waved  her  hands  towards  the  disabled  steamers. 

"  We  shall  know  in  an  hour's  time,"  the  captain  an- 
swered. 

44  What  do  you  mean  ?  " 

"There  are  war-ships  on  the  horizon  and  they  are 
coming  here." 

"  Then  why  don't  you  escape  while  there  is  time  ?  " 
she  cried  excitedly. 

"  Ask  Mr.  Drake,"  the  captain  said  drily. 

Lady  Mildred  looked  inquiringly  at  him. 

"  We  have  acted  as  our  consciences  directed,  and  we 
are  prepared  to  face  the  responsibility  for  what  we  have 
done,"  Drake  said  quietly. 

"  But  you  may  be  severely  punished.  You,  and  my 
husband.  Mr.  Gaunt  is  ill.  Escape  while  there  is 
time,"  she  cried  excitedly. 

Drake  shook  his  head  decidedly,  and  she  appealed  to 
Captain  Armstrong. 

"  Don't  you  think  it  would  be  better  to  go  ?  " 

"  It  is  not  a  matter  of  opinion.     Before  we  came  here 


THE    VOW 331 

we  laid  down  a  line  of  action  which  we  shall  faithfully 
carry  out.  It  might  be  worse,  for  we  are  not  responsible 
for  any  loss  of  life,  save  on  our  own  side." 

"  Poor  Captain  Drake,"  she  said  sadly,  and  tears  came 
to  her  eyes. 

There  was  a  cry  from  the  bridge. 

"  The  first  flies  the  White  Ensign." 

"  I  am  glad  it  is  our  own  people,  and  no  beastly 
foreigners,"  the  captain  said  grimly. 


CHAPTER  XLII 

THE  flag-ship  of  the  admiral  of  the  Atlantic 
cruiser  squadron  was  the  Invincible  and  she 
led  as  the  fleet  swept  towards  the  mouth  of  the 
river. 

Admiral  Stretton  was  on  the  quarter-deck,  and  there 
was  a  grim  smile  on  his  face  as  he  looked  at  the  disabled 
steamers. 

"  They  certainly  haven't  been  idle,"  he  muttered  to 
himself. 

His  flag-lieutenant  approached  and  saluted. 

"  The  barge  is  ready,  sir,"  he  announced. 

The  cruiser's  twelve  inch  guns  were  pointed  full  on 
the  Esmeralda  and  the  crew  stood  at  their  quarters. 
The  fleet  had  ceased  moving  and  the  semaphore  on  the 
flag-ship  was  busily  signaling  orders. 

The  admiral  entered  the  barge,  accompanied  by  his 
flag-lieutenant,  and  they  started  off  at  once.  Captain 
Armstrong  stood  at  the  gangway  of  the  cruiser.  He 
was  dressed  in  a  suit  of  drill  and  wore  the  white  pith 
helmet  of  the  civilian,  but  his  hand  was  brought  sharply 
to  the  salute. 

"  I  have  seen  you  before,  sir,"  the  admiral  said  grimly. 

"Yes,  sir." 

"  You  were  in  the  service  ?  " 

"  Yes,  sir." 

"  Perhaps  it  would  be  as  well  if  I  do  not  ask  you  your 

33* 


THE    VOW  333 

name.  Who  is  the  lady  ? "  the  admiral  demanded 
abruptly. 

"  I  am  Lady  Mildred  Gaunt,"  she  answered  coldly. 

"  Take  me  to  your  cabin,"  the  admiral  said  gruffly  to 
the  captain,  and  did  not  speak  again  till  they  were  alone. 

"  This  is  a  pretty  business,  sir.  Do  you  realize  that 
you  have  forced  my  squadron  to  come  to  this  diabolical 
spot  ?  You  deserve  hanging,"  the  admiral  said  angrily. 

Captain  Armstrong  did  not  answer,  but  there  was  a 
twinkle  in  his  eye. 

"  You  can  tell  me  your  story.  You  may  as  well  start 
at  the  beginning." 

Now  and  then  Armstrong  was  stopped  to  answer  a 
question,  but  very  quickly  the  admiral  knew  everything 
there  was  to  be  known. 

"  A  mad  adventure  from  the  start,  sir." 

"  Has  it  succeeded,  sir  ?  We  have  had  no  news  at  all," 
Armstrong  asked  eagerly. 

"  The  Powers  have  taken  over  the  Congo,  if  that's 
what  you  want  to  know." 

"  Hurrah !  Pardon  me,  sir.  I  will  be  back  in  a 
minute,"  Armstrong  cried  and  hastened  to  Drake  with 
the  news. 

"  We've  beaten  the  beggars,"  he  cried  triumphantly. 

Drake's  face  flushed,  and  then  became  ashen. 

"  Tell  me,"  he  whispered  hoarsely,  and  Armstrong  re- 
peated the  admiral's  words. 

"  I  must  go  and  let  Gaunt  know,"  Drake  said  ex- 
citedly, and  Armstrong  returned  to  his  cabin. 

"  Well,  sir,  what  punishment  do  you  think  you  and 
that  man  Gaunt  deserve  ?  What  am  I  to  do  with  you  ?  " 
the  admiral  asked  grimly. 


334  THE    VOW 


"  That  depends  upon  your  instructions,  sir,"  Arm- 
strong answered  with  a  smile. 

The  admiral  smiled,  and  took  a  cigarette  from  a  silver 
box  on  the  table. 

"  Yes,  I  have  received  my  instructions,  as  you  sug- 
gest. Armstrong,  I  will  drop  the  official,  and  will  speak 
to  you  as  man  to  man." 

"  You  know  my  name." 

"  Yes  —  unofficially.  Now  I  am  going  to  give  you  a 
hint.  The  fleet  will  be  off  the  mouth  of  the  river  to- 
night, but  I  cannot  guarantee  that  a  careful  watch  will  be 
kept.  In  fact,  I  think  that  a  man  who  has  had  experi- 
ence in  handling  a  destroyer  might  creep  out  without 
being  seen,"  the  admiral  remarked  slowly  and  signifi- 
cantly. 

"  I  understand,  sir." 

"  I  must  see  Gaunt.     I  have  a  message  for  him." 

"  He  is  very  ill." 

"  Still,  I  must  see  him,"  the  admiral  said,  and  the 
words  amounted  to  an  order. 

Lady  Mildred,  who  had  been  seated  by  her  husband, 
rose  when  they  entered  and  looked  questioningly  at  the 
admiral. 

"  My  husband  must  not  be  disturbed,"  she  said  quietly. 

"  I  am  afraid  that  I  must  deliver  a  message  to  him,  my 
lady.  Armstrong,  you  can  go." 

The  captain  saluted  and  disappeared. 

"  Mr.  Gaunt,  I  won't  trouble  you  with  a  long  discourse. 
To-night  Captain  Armstrong  will  sail  this  cruiser  for  San 
Salvador.  Sir  Keith  Hamilton  thinks  that  that  will  be 
the  best  solution,  for  it  would  be  impossible  to  procure  a 
conviction  should  you  be  tried  in  England.  I  would 


THE    VOW  335 

suggest  that,  when  it  is  dark,  you,  your  wife  and  the 
parson,  go  to  the  yacht.  It  would  be  as  well  if  you  also 
have  disappeared  by  daybreak.  I  myself  shall  have  to 
stay  here  while  my  engineers  make  good  some  of  the 
damage  you  have  done." 

"  Am  I  to  understand  that  I  am  to  be  allowed  to  go 
free  ?  "  Gaunt  asked  quietly. 

"  It  amounts  to  that,"  the  admiral  answered. 

"  Thank  God ! "  Lady  Mildred  cried  fervently,  and 
her  face  was  aglow  with  joy. 

"  In  my  last  wireless  from  the  Admiralty,  there  was  a 
message  for  you  from  Sir  Keith  Hamilton.  '  Tell  Gaunt 
that  he  may  consider  himself  a  lucky  man,  and  suggest 
that  he  take  a  twelvemonth  voyage  round  the  world, 
for  the  benefit  of  his  health.'  In  my  opinion  the  advice 
is  good." 

There  was  a  knock  at  the  door  and  Captain  Arm- 
strong entered. 

"  The  Governor-General's  launch  is  making  for  the 
flag-ship,  sir,  and  I  think  his  Excellency  is  on  board." 

"  Then  I  am  afraid  he  will  have  to  wait  a  while.  I 
don't  know  that  I  am  particularly  anxious  to  see  him 
till  you  are  safely  out  of  the  way.  Perhaps  Lady  Mil- 
dred would  give  me  some  tea  ?  "  the  admiral  said  with  a 
deferential  bow. 

Like  the  majority  of  sailors,  the  admiral  had  an  eye  for 
a  pretty  woman,  and  Lady  Mildred  smiled  graciously,  for 
she  was  very  grateful  for  the  mercy  that  was  being 
shown  to  her  husband. 

She  looked  at  Gaunt  and  read  consent  in  his  eyes. 

"  Perhaps  Captain  Armstrong  will  join  us,"  she  said 
demurely. 


336  THE    VOW 


It  was  dusk  when  the  admiral  left  and  an  hour  later  a 
launch  left  the  Esmeralda  for  the  Heron.  Gaunt  was 
carefully  covered  with  blankets,  and  stood  the  journey 
well. 

Captain  Armstrong  had  accompanied  them  and  shook 
hands  with  his  companions  in  adventure. 

"  Good-bye,  Gaunt.  I  hope  that  you  will  be  quite  fit 
when  we  meet  again.  Good-bye,  Padre,"  and  he  gripped 
their  hands  tightly. 

And  when  morning  came  the  Esmeralda  and  the 
Heron  had  vanished  from  the  mouth  of  the  Congo. 


CHAPTER  XLIII 

IN  the  distance  could  be  seen  the  Peak  of  Teneriffe, 
gleaming  white  among  the  clouds,  and  the  Heron 
was  steaming  steadily  towards  the  island. 

Aft  of  the  yacht  John  Gaunt  lay  on  a  deck  chair  with 
his  wife  sitting  close  to  him.  Her  hand  rested  in  his, 
and  there  was  peace  and  contentment  on  her  face.  Al- 
ready the  millionaire  was  better,  and  there  was  a  little 
color  on  his  cheeks,  but  there  was  a  moody  expression 
in  his  eyes. 

"  I  am  very  happy,  dearest,"  Lady  Mildred  whispered. 

But  he  did  not  answer,  and  she  looked  at  him  in  won- 
der. 

"  Something  is  troubling  you  —  what  is  it  ?  " 

"  It  is  only  that  I  have  decided  to  go  back  to  England 
when  all  the  time  I  am  longing  to  continue  this  voyage 
forever." 

"  Why  do  you  wish  to  return  to  England  ?  Remem- 
ber Sir  Keith's  advice." 

"  I  must  go,  Mildred.  There  is  a  warrant  out  for  my 
arrest,  and  the  more  manly  course  is  to  go  and  face  the 
music." 

"  But  they  may  imprison  you,"  she  cried  vehemently. 

"  I  must  risk  that,  dear  one.  You  wouldn't  have  me 
play  the  coward." 

"  No.  I  can  only  wish  you  to  do  what  you  believe  to 
be  your  duty,  John." 

337 


338 THE    VOW 

"  I  thought  you  would  say  that.  Call  the  captain  to 
me." 

Gaunt's  eyes  followed  his  wife  with  simple  adoration. 

"  Captain,  we  sail  straight  for  Southampton  at  full 
speed." 

Edward  Drake  had  drawn  near,  and  he  uttered  a  cry. 

"  I  had  been  hoping  that  you  would  decide  to  do 
that,"  he  said  joyfully. 

These  last  few  days  he  had  been  struggling  for  the 
courage  to  give  to  Lady  Ethel  his  brother's  last  mes- 
sage, but  he  had  dreaded  to  see  her  suffer.  Now  he  could 
no  longer  postpone  the  unpleasant  duty,  and  so  he  went 
to  the  saloon  where  he  found  her  reading,  and  she  looked 
up  with  a  smile  when  he  entered. 

"  Lady  Ethel,  there  is  something  that  I  have  been  try- 
ing to  tell  you,"  he  began  in  a  low  voice. 

The  color  came  to  her  cheeks,  and  she  could  not 
look  at  him. 

"  Lindsay  sent  you  a  message.  You  know  that  he 
loved  you  as  man  rarely  loves  woman.  He  asked  me 
to  tell  you  that  he  would  have  died  happy  if  he  could 
only  have  known  that  you  cared  for  him." 

Tears  dimmed  her  eyes,  but  still  she  did  not  look  at 
him. 

"  He  was  a  man  worthy  of  any  woman's  love,  and  I 
believe  that  you  would  have  been  happy  with  him.  1 
often  watched  you  together,  and  it  seemed  to  me  that  you 
did  love  him.  It  is  something  that  we  can  share  one 
another's  grief  for  his  loss.  If  his  life  had  been  spared, 
we  might  have  been  brother  and  sister." 

She  turned  her  eyes  to  him  and  he  gave  a  cry  of 
amazement. 


THE    VOW  339 

"  Ethel,"  he  cried  hoarsely. 

"  Yes,  I  loved  your  brother  as  you  love  him — as  a 
sister  would  love  him,  and,  Edward,  I  have  sorrowed  for 
your  sorrow.  I  have  seen  you  suffering,  and  I  could 
not  speak." 

"  Ethel,  is  it  true  ?  " 

"  Yes,"  she  whispered  tremulously. 

But  the  revulsion  of  feeling  was  too  great  and  he 
stood  before  her,  wonder,  incredulity,  and  love  in  his 
eyes.  In  a  moment  his  arms  were  around  her,  and 
he  kissed  her  passionately,  her  hair  —  her  eyes  —  her 
lips. 

"  My  darling,  do  you  love  me  ?  " 

"  Yes,  Edward,  for  a  very  long  time,  but  I  did  not  always 
know  it.  I  am  glad  you  have  told  me,  for  now  I  can 
help  to  comfort  you.  I  can  share  in  your  sorrow,  for  we 
have  both  lost  a  brother." 

And  they  told  one  another  those  things  that  are 
music  to  lovers'  ears.  Suddenly  Drake  drew  himself 
away. 

"  Do  you  realize  that  I  am  a  poor  man,  and  can  offer 
you  nothing?" 

"  Except  love  —  and  that  is  everything,"  she  inter- 
rupted him  gently. 

Gaunt  and  his  wife  were  unfeignedly  glad  to  hear 
the  news,  and  after  dinner  the  two  men  had  a  long  talk. 

"  Drake,  I  have  been  thinking  about  my  future. 
Whatever  happens  in  England,  I  have  determined  upon 
my  course  of  action.  I  believe  that  the  attempt  to  fulfil 
my  vow  has  made  me  a  better  man.  I  seem  to  see 
things  differently  and  I  am  going  to  try  to  live  the  rest 
of  my  days It  is  difficult  to  explain,  and  I  want 


340  THE    VOW 

your  help.  We  will  use  my  wealth  together.  You 
shall  carry  on  your  work  in  the  East  End  of  London,  and 
you  shall  have  all  the  money  you  require.  I  intend  to 
make  a  settlement  on  your  marriage  to  Ethel.  No, 
don't  protest  I'm  not  thinking  of  you,  but  there  may 
be  others " 

"  You  are  very  generous,"  Drake  said  with  deep  emo- 
tion. 

He  himself  cared  nothing  for  wealth,  but  it  was 
pleasant  to  know  that  his  wife  would  not  be  deprived  of 
the  luxuries  to  which  she  had  been  accustomed. 

The  voyage  was  an  uneventful  one  and  when  South- 
ampton was  reached  they  proceeded  straight  to  Lon- 
don. 

It  was  not  till  late  the  next  morning  that  the  news  of 
Gaunt's  arrival  became  known,  and  when  he  drove  to 
Bow  Street  Police  Court,  the  streets  were  thronged  with 
an  enthusiastic  crowd  who  gave  him  the  reception  that  is 
generally  accorded  to  a  popular  hero. 

He  surrendered  himself  to  the  police,  and  later  in  the 
day  was  brought  before  the  magistrate. 

The  proceedings  were  over  in  a  few  minutes.  Mr. 
Ruggles,  K.  C.,  rose  and  spoke  a  few  sentences. 

"  My  clients  have  instructed  me  to  withdraw  the  case, 
and  I  do  so  without  comment." 

Sir  Richard  Tester  then  rose. 

"  I  should  like  my  client  to  have  an  opportunity  of 
stating  on  oath  what  really  occurred,  and  how  Marillier 
was  killed." 

The  magistrate  agreed,  and  Gaunt  went  into  the  wit- 
ness box.  The  story  was  soon  told  and  when  he  was 
formally  discharged,  a  cheer  was  raised  in  the  court,  and 


THE    VOW   341 

it  was  with  the  utmost  difficulty  that  he  made  his  way 
back  to  the  car.  During  the  afternoon  he  found  out 
that  the  case  brought  by  the  Amanti  Company  against 
Davis  had  collapsed  from  lack  of  evidence,  and  so  that 
worry  disappeared. 

A  week  later  Lady  Ethel  was  quietly  married  to 
Edward  Drake,  and  they  started  for  the  south  of 
France,  where  Gaunt  and  his  wife  were  to  meet  them 
in  the  yacht. 

Sir  Keith  Hamilton  was  present  at  the  wedding  and 
dined  that  night  at  Gaunt  House. 

"  You  are  a  lucky  man,  Gaunt.  You  bring  about  an 
international  revolution  and  escape  without  punishment. 
More  than  that,  you  become  the  idol  of  the  great  Brit- 
ish public." 

"  I  owe  a  great  deal  to  you,  and  am  very  grateful," 
Gaunt  answered  earnestly. 

"  Then  tell  me  one  thing  —  what  was  your  motive  in 
taking  up  the  cause  of  the  natives  of  the  Congo  ?  "  Sir 
Keith  asked  slowly. 

Gaunt  did  not  answer,  but  his  eyes  met  his  wife's 
and  they  exchanged  a  look  of  perfect  understanding. 

And  Sir  Keith  wondered  and  still  wonders. 


THE  END 


TITLES    SELECTED    FROM 

GROSSET  &  DUNLAFS  LIST 

May  be  had  wherever  books  are  sold.       Ask  for  Grosset  &  Dunlap's  list 

A   CERTAIN    RICH   MAN.    By  William  Allen  White. 

A  vivid,  startling  portrayal  of  one  man's  financial  greed,  itt 
.wide  spreading  power,  its  action  in  Wall  Street,  and  its  effect  on 
the  three  women  most  intimately  in  his  life.  A  splendid,  enter* 
taining  American  novel. 

IN   OUR    TOWN.    By  William  Allen  White.    Illustrated  by  F. 
R.  Gruger  and  W.  Glackens. 

Made  up  of  the  observations  of  a  keen  newspaper  editor, 
involving  the  town  millionaire,  the  smart  set,  the  literary  set,  the 
bohemian  set,  and  many  others.  All  humorously  related  and  sure 
to  hold  the  attention. 

NATHAN  BURKE.    By  Mary  S.  Watts. 

The  story  of  an  ambitious,  backwoods  Ohio  boy  who  rose 
to  prominence.  Everyday  humor  of  American  rustic  life  per- 
meates the  book. 

THE  HIGH    HAND.    By  Jacques  Futrelle.    Illustrated  by  Will 
Grefe. 

A  splendid  story  of  the  political  game,  with  a  son  of  the 
soil  on  the  one  side,  and  a  "kid  glove"  politician  on  the  other. 
A  pretty  girl,  interested  in  both  men,  is  the  chief  figure. 

THE  BACKWOODSMEN.  By  Charles  G.  D.  Roberts.  Illustrated. 
Realistic  stories  of  men  and  women  living  midst  the  savage 
beauty  of  the  wilderness.    Human  nature   at  its  best  and   worst 
is  well  protrayed. 

YELLOWSTONE  NIGHTS.    By  Herbert  Quick. 

A  jolly  company  of  six  artists,  writers  and  other  clever 
folks  take  a  trip  through  the  National  Park,  and  tell  stories  around 
camp  fire  at  night.  Brilliantly  clever  and  original. 

'THE  PROFESSOR'S  MYSTERY.    By  "weiis  Hastings  and 

Brian  Hooker.    Illustrated  by  Hanson  Booth. 

A  young  college  professor,  missing  his  steamer  for  Europe, 
has  a  romantic  meeting  with  a  pretty  girl,  escorts  her  home,  and 
is  enveloped  in  a  big  mystery.  ( 

Ask  for  complete  free  list  of  G.  &  D.  Popular  Copyrighted  Fiction 

GROSSET  &  DUNLAP,  526  WEST  26th  ST.,  NEW  YORK 


TITLES    SELECTED    FROM 

GROSSET  &  DUNLAPS  LIST 

May  be  had  wherever  books  are  sold.      Ask  for  Grosset  &  Dunlap's  list. 

HIS   HOUR    By  Elinor  Glyn.    Illustrated. 

A  beautiful  blonde  Englishwoman  visits  Russia,  and  is  vio- 
lently made  love  to  by  a  young  Russian  aristocrat.  A  most  unique 
situation  complicates  the  romance. 

THE    GAMBLERS.      By  Charles  Klein  and  Arthur  Homblow. 
Illustrated  by  C.  E.  Chambers. 

A  big,  vital  treatment  of  a  present  day  situation  wherein  men 
play  for  big  financial  stakes  and  women  flourish  on  the  profits— or 
repudiate  the  methods. 

CHEERFUL  AMERICANS.    By  Charles  Battell  Loomis.    Illus 
trated  by  Florence  Scovel  Shinn  and  others. 

A  good,  wholesome,  laughable  presentation  of  some  Americans 
at  home  and  abroad,  on  their  vacations,  and  during  their  hours  of 
relaxation. 

THE  WOMAN  OF  THE  WORLD.    By  Ella  Wheeler  Wilcox. 

Clever,  original  presentations  of  present  day  social  problems 
and  the  best  solutions  of  them.  A  book  every  girl  ana  woman 
should  possess. 

THE    LIGHT  THAT  LURES.    By  Percy  Brebner. 
Illustrated.     Handsomely  colored  wrapper. 

A  young  Southerner  who  loved  Lafayette,  goes  to  France  to 
aid  him  during  the  days  of  terror,  and  is  lured  in  a  certain  direction 
by  the  lovely  eyes  of  a  Frenchwoman. 

THE  RAMRODDERS.       By  Holman  Day.      Frontispiece  by 
Harold  Matthews  Brett. 

A  clever,  timely  story  that  will  make  politicians  think  and  will 
make  women  realize  the  part  that  politics  play — even  in  their 
romances. 

Asl  for  compete  free  list  of  G.  &  D.  Popular  Copyrighted,  Fiotion 

GROSSET  &  DUNLAP,  526  WEST  26th  ST.,  NEW  YORK 


